Patna: Fifteen Opposition events met in Patna Friday to forge a standard entrance in “nationwide curiosity” and, with the intention to tackle the ruling Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, determined to provoke talks on the contentious challenge of seat-sharing.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who hosted the assembly at his official residence, advised media individuals after the practically three-hour-long assembly {that a} choice has been taken to “battle the subsequent polls collectively”, including that the modalities will likely be labored out subsequent month in Shimla.
Nevertheless, the Aam Admi Social gathering (AAP), which was among the many events which attended the assembly, struck a discordant notice and in a press release mentioned that it “will likely be tough” for them to take part in future conferences of like-minded events “the place the Congress is a participant” except the latter pledges to vote towards the Delhi ordinance in Rajya Sabha.
Calling it the “black ordinance”, the AAP mentioned it was “anti-constitutional, anti-federalism, and outright undemocratic”. “Moreover, it seeks to reverse the Supreme Court docket’s judgment on the difficulty and is an affront to the judiciary. Congress’ hesitation and refusal to behave as a group participant, particularly on a problem as necessary as this one, would make it very tough for the AAP to be part of any alliance that features Congress,” the AAP mentioned in its assertion quickly after the assembly.
Save for the friction between the AAP — represented by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann on the assembly — and the Congress over the difficulty, leaders current within the assembly advised the media that the discussions have been held in a “cordial environment”, and ended on a “notice of optimism”.
Addressing a press briefing after the assembly, Nitish mentioned the Shimla huddle will likely be convened by the Congress, which governs Himachal Pradesh. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has mentioned the assembly is prone to be held on 12 July.
“We had very fruitful discussions. There was an settlement to work collectively and to battle the subsequent elections collectively. Mallikarjun Kharge will convene the subsequent assembly. This (initiative) is within the nationwide curiosity. Our effort will likely be given closing form throughout the subsequent assembly,” mentioned Nitish.
The events on the assembly included the Congress, Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Trinamool Congress, AAP, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Nationalist Congress Social gathering (NCP), Jammu & Kashmir Nationwide Convention, J&Okay Peoples Democratic Social gathering, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Communist Social gathering of India, Communist Social gathering of India (Marxist), Communist Social gathering of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, and the Samajwadi Social gathering.
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A ‘versatile’ method
No questions have been taken on the media briefing, which was additionally attended by Kharge, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, amongst others.
Kejriwal and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M.Okay. Stalin, although, gave it a miss. Stalin, it was learnt, needed to catch a flight.
Kharge mentioned a standard agenda to battle the elections unitedly was within the works. Considerably, he additionally pressured that the agenda will likely be drawn up protecting in thoughts {that a} comparable narrative will not work in each state.
“We must work in each state in a different way as the identical narrative doesn’t work in all places. We have to battle unitedly in 2024,” Kharge mentioned. Rahul added that the events will undertake a “versatile” method.
“I mentioned within the assembly that that is an ideological battle and we’re collectively on this. There will likely be variations amongst us however we now have determined to work collectively and we are going to work with flexibility and can safeguard our shared ideology,” Rahul mentioned.
Banerjee, who reportedly intervened when tempers flared over the Delhi ordinance challenge on the assembly, mentioned a choice has been taken to not simply battle elections, but additionally the “political vendetta” of the BJP collectively.
“Firstly, we’re united. Secondly, we are going to battle unitedly. And thirdly, we are going to battle vendetta unitedly. BJP needs historical past to distort historical past. Individuals say in the event that they return there gained’t be any polls sooner or later,” she mentioned.
On the briefing, the RJD supremo, who underwent a kidney transplant operation in Singapore final December, mentioned he was now “absolutely match”. “Ab hum Modi aur BJP ko match kar denge (loosely translated, I’ll educate Modi and BJP a lesson),” mentioned Lalu, exhibiting flashes of his trademark wit.
He additionally had a phrase of recommendation for Rahul. “It is best to take heed to us and get married now. Your mom all the time advised me that you just don’t take heed to her. There’s nonetheless time. Get married, hum log baraati chalenge (we will likely be part of your marriage ceremony procession),” he mentioned, drawing chuckles from different leaders and reporters.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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