Patna Meet: Opposition Leaders to Strategize for 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

Patna: Opposition leaders from across India are gathering in Patna to formulate a comprehensive strategy aimed at challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

This significant meeting, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, holds historical significance as Patna was the epicentre of the 1974 call for a total revolution by Jayaprakash Narayan, which led to the fall of Indira Gandhi's majority government.

Prominent Attendees
Several prominent leaders have already arrived in Patna, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge are expected to join the gathering on Friday morning.

Objective: A United Opposition Front
The primary objective of the meeting is to foster a consensus among opposition parties, forging a united front capable of effectively countering the BJP's dominance.

Leaders from various opposition parties have arrived in Patna. However, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Chaudhary will skip the meeting. He has cited a prior family commitment for his absence. But he has expressed optimism about the meeting's importance for opposition unity.

Hosted by Nitish Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, belonging to the Janata Dal (United) party, is the host of the meeting. He aims to facilitate productive discussions and encourage collaboration among opposition leaders to present a formidable challenge to the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Meetings and Interactions
Upon her arrival in Patna, Mamata Banerjee paid a visit to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch and former Bihar CM Lalu Yadav, as well as his son and state Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, emphasizing the collective fight against the BJP. Banerjee also held discussions with Nitish Kumar, as did Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. These interactions serve as opportunities for leaders to establish common ground and strengthen alliances.

Mayawati's Critique
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati expressed scepticism about the meeting, using sarcastic remarks to suggest that mere handshakes are insufficient for meaningful opposition collaboration. Mayawati criticized the lack of clarity regarding the opposition's intentions and highlighted the crucial role of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats for electoral success, questioning the opposition's commitment to their objectives.

Fear of Potential Arrests Behind Gathering: Sushil Modi
Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi took a dig at the opposition leaders, implying that their gathering stemmed from a fear of potential arrests once Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns for a third term after the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He confidently asserted that despite not holding a single seat in the Lok Sabha, the RJD's challenge to the BJP's 303 seats would prove futile, predicting that Bihar would fully support PM Modi in the polls.