A mega Opposition meeting, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to chalk out a roadmap for the formation of an anti-BJP front for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, has concluded in Patna.
Leaders including All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin attended the meet.
Opposition meet Live Updates: Follow this space for all the latest updates from the first joint meeting of Opposition parties in Patna, Bihar.
At the joint media briefing, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said, "Fit ho gaye hain... Narendra Modi aur BJP ko fit kar denge (I am totally fit now. Will make Narendra Modi and BJP fit too)."
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "Today, Bihar is witnessing a new political revolution. We will work together to save the nation and ensure how the nation and its people will progress."
In an official statement, the Aam Aadmi Party said, "Except for the Indian National Congress, all other 11 parties, which have representation in the Rajya Sabha, have clearly expressed their stand against the Black Ordinance (Centres's ordinance on Delhi govt) and announced that they would oppose it in the Rajya Sabha."
"The Congress, a national party that takes a stand on almost all issues, has yet to make its position on the Black Ordinance public. Congress’ silence raises suspicions about its real intentions," the party stated.
"17 parties from Kashmir to Kanyakumari have come together not for power, but for principles," Omar Abdullah said after Opposition meet.
"We may have differences. We might differ on ideology. But the nation is one. We have united to protect the idea of India. A good beginning has been made and the conclusion will also be favourable," former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said.
"Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge will chair the next Opposition meeting," Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said.
"We are united. We will fight unitedly. The next meeting is in Shimla. We will unitedly fight against the dictatorial government of the BJP and their atrocities," Mamata Banerjee said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that 17 parties have decided to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha polls together. (PTI)
At the joint media briefing, Rahul Gandhi said, "I agree we have our differences, but we have decided to work together. We will work with flexibility. And we will protect the ideology that we share. As Nitish ji said, we will meet soon. Opposition unity is a process and this is going to progress deeply now."
At the joint media brief, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "It was a good meeting where it has been decided to fight the elections together. Another meeting will be held soon."
"In the next meeting, we will decide on the seat-sharing aspect," he added.
After the first joint Opposition meet was held in Patna, the next meeting of the Opposition parties is likely to be held in Shimla on July 10 or 12.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday dubbed the meeting of Opposition leaders in Patna as a "photo session" and said their unity is nearly impossible and they will face drubbing in the next Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing a public rally in Jammu, Shah also slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying he has the habit of criticising everything.
A hoarding near Patna High Court depicting Akhilesh Yadav as a warrior was seen today. This comes as the Samajwadi Party chief is attending the mega Opposition meeting in the capital city of Bihar.
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Taking a jibe at the ongoing Opposition meet in Patna, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Today a photo session is underway in Patna. They (Opposition) want to challenge PM Modi and NDA. I want to tell them that in 2024 PM Modi will become PM by winning more than 300 seats."
After Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party would take a decision on supporting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) against the Centre's ordinance concerning control of services in the Centre before the next Parliament session, AAP claimed that "BJP and Rahul have reached an agreement and he is standing with the BJP on this illegal Ordinance".
Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren reached Patna to attend the Opposition leaders' meeting.
The key Opposition meeting in Bihar's Patna is slated to begin shortly. More than 15 Opposition parties are meeting today to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have reached the residence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the Opposition meeting. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut have also reached Patna for the meeting.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has reached Patna to attend the Opposition leaders' meeting.
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"I especially thank Congress for publicly announcing that they cannot alone defeat PM Modi and that they need the support of others to do so," says Union Minister Smriti Irani.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has arrived in Patna for the Opposition meeting. Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar met RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav at his residence.
Ahead of the meeting of Opposition parties in Patna, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday said if democracy has to survive after 2024, then political parties will have to show a big heart in the national interest to instil confidence among voters.
In an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have national ambitions, but this will help Prime Minister Narendra Modi indirectly and support "dictatorship".
Both these parties are in direct contest with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in different states. The BRS has been holding rallies in Maharashtra, in a bid to make a foray into the state.
"If democracy has to survive after 2024, then political leaders have to show a big heart for national interest. If all come together, then it will instil confidence among voters," it said. (PTI)
"There is a battle of ideologies going on in India. On one hand is Congress' 'Bharat Jodo' ideology, on the other hand is BJP-RSS' 'Bharat Todo' ideology. We have come here because the Congress party's DNA is in Bihar," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in Patna.
"BJP is spreading hatred and dividing the country. Congress is working towards uniting the country and spreading love," says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Patna. (PTI)
The Janata Dal (United), led by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has been instrumental in getting all parties together. It said the Patna meet would provide a roadmap against the Modi-led BJP government for the 2024 polls.