Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, April 29
Acting on the advice of the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will invite all opposition leaders for a meeting in Patna next month.
Nitish Kumar said here on Saturday, “Since all the opposition leaders are engaged in assembly elections in Karnataka, talks that were resumed on April 27 have been suspended. Now, after the Karnataka elections, we may meet at Patna.”
Nitish added: “I have met several opposition leaders in New Delhi, Kolkata and Lucknow for uniting opposition parties against the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Still, consultations with more leaders are pending. Will meet them after Karnataka elections scheduled for May 10.”
Nitish Kumar met the RJD President Lalu Prasad at 10, Circular Road bungalow of the former Chief Minister Rabri Devi on opposition unity move. He also advised Nitish to go ahead with his campaign for the opposition unity.
On April 27, Nitish Kumar had met TMC President Mamta Banerjee in continuation of his opposition unity campaign. Mamta suggested Nitish to convene a meeting of all opposition leaders at Patna as Jayaprakash Narayan had started his movement against the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi in 1974. Students movement had started in Patna on March 18, 1974.
Nitish had met Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav at Lucknow the same day.
During his visit to the national capital, Bihar Chief Minister had discussed the opposition unity move with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, CPM leader Sitaram Yechuri, CPI leader D Raja also. Last year, Telangana Chief Minister K C Rao had visited Patna to discuss anti-BJP opposition unity plan.
Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav went to Ranchi to extend opposition unity to Jharkhand by including Jharkhand Mukti Morcha also in the campaign.
