Congress And JD(U) Leaders Discuss Joint Meeting Of Opposition Parties

Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal and JD(U)‘s national president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh have informed media that opposition parties plan to call for a joint meeting this month to develop an anti-BJP coalition.

Their statement followed a discussion between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi. However, the Centre’s ordinance overruling the Delhi government’s bureaucracy reigns has complicated the situation, and the Congress is yet to decide whether to back the Aam Aadmi Party in frustrating the Bill to replace the ordinance.

According to Venugopal and JD(U)'s Ranjan, the date and venue for the opposition party meeting will be decided within the next few days. Mr. Venugopal expressed his hope that the meeting would be attended by the majority of opposition parties.

The Bihar CM has met with the Congress leadership for the second time within a month, after his last meeting with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on April 12. In the interim, he has had meetings with Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, K. Chandrashekhar Rao, Arvind Kejriwal, and Akhilesh Yadav - leaders of five non-Congress allied parties, as he sought to ascertain their stance before the 2024 general elections.

The meeting with Congress leadership may be a part of Kumar's strategy to chart his future political course, considering the shifting political dynamics within the opposition and a possible alliance with opposition parties.

Despite the BJD and BRS's tendency to favor the BJP during the past nine years, the opposition hints that at least 400 Lok Sabha seats could potentially unite under a single opposition candidate, leaving the BJP at a disadvantage. This strategy reportedly emerged as a conclusion during the discussions between the two groups.

AAP is reportedly reaching out to Congress for collaboration in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Delhi. While media reports suggest that AAP is looking for a one-on-one meeting with the Congress leadership, Congress has yet to respond to their proposals.

Congress’ Delhi unit has remained adamant in their refusal to offer any support to AAP.