Opposition meet in Patna concludes | 17 parties decide to fight unitedly against BJP in 2024 LS polls, to set aside their differences

There will be no more elections in future if this “dictatorial” government returns, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee warned. “If this dictatorial government returns this time, there will be no elections in future,” she said at a press conference.

“We are united, we will fight unitedly. Do not call us the opposition, we are patriotic and we love ‘Bharat Mata’. We also feel the pain when Manipur burns. The BJP is running a government dictatorially,” Ms. Banerjee asserted.

The TMC supremo said the first meeting of opposition leaders was organised in Patna as “whatever starts from Patna, takes the shape of the public movement”.

“We resolve that we all are united and will fight unitedly against the BJP,” she said and added that “the BJP wants to change history, but we will ensure history is saved”.

Ms. Banerjee, who was accompanied by TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and other party leaders, said at the press conference that “it was a good meeting” where several chief ministers had come.

She termed the ‘atrocities’ committed by the BJP government as “terrible” and said the regime is targeting opposition leaders who speak up against them.

“The ED, CBI and other agencies are put behind opposition leaders like ‘chhupa rustom’. They file cases against the opposition leaders who speak against them. This should not happen. They do not bother about unemployment, common people, atrocities committed against Dalits, women, or the economy which is being destroyed,” she alleged.

The West Bengal chief minister reiterated that the BJP government at the Centre is behaving like a dictator and “we will have to fight together and oppose the ‘kala kanoon’ (black law)“, an oblique reference to the Delhi ordinance for which AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is seeking the support of all parties.

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said the main issue is to protect the character of our secular democratic country which the “BJP wants to change”.

CPI leader D. Raja alleged that BJP’s nine-year rule has become “disastrous and detrimental” to the constitution of our country.

RJD president Lalu Prasad gave a paternal reprimand to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his refusal to tie the nuptial knot, pointing out the consternation it was causing to his mother Sonia Gandhi.

The aging septuagenarian, who was the last among the galaxy of opposition leaders to address the press briefing after the much vaunted opposition meet, was in his element as he regaled the delegates and the media persons alike with his characteristic sense of humour.

“You do not heed our advice to get married”, said Mr. Prasad while complimenting 53-years-old Gandhi for wearing a half-sleeved shirt, which the RJD supremo said was a perfect foil for the “Modi kurta”.

“Baat maaniye, shaadi kariye”, said Mr. Prasad, adding “your mummy keeps fretting over your refusal to get married”.

“We would like to be a part of your wedding procession (baraat),“ said Mr. Prasad, evoking a shy smile from Mr. Gandhi and guffaws from others present on the occasion.

“AAP is insisting on Congress to clear its stand on Ordinance issue, they are not clearing their stand. I cannot see any unity in them (opposition parties),” says Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. - PTI

After the meeting of Opposition parties in Patna, the AAP said it will be “difficult” for the party to be a part of such meetings in the future in which the Congress is a part, untill the grand-old party agrees that all its MPs in Rajya Sabha will oppose theCentre’s services ordinance for Delhi.

“Today, during the like-minded party meeting in Patna, many parties urged the Congress to publicly denounce the ‘black’ Ordinance. However, the Congress refused to do so. Until the Congress publicly denounces the black Ordinance and declares that all 31 of its Rajya Sabha MPs will oppose the Ordinance in the Upper House, it will be difficult for AAP to participate in future meetings of like-minded parties where the Congress is a participant,“ an official statement from the AAP said.

Though the AAP took part in the meeting in Patna, AAP leaders did not take part in a joint press conference by leaders of Opposition parties after the meeting.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad said after the Opposition meet that the “people of our country want us to fight unitedly against BJP and RSS”. The RJD leaded added, “PM Modi is distributing sandalwood in the U.S. when country is facing problems.” “I’m fit now, I can take on him,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “message from Patna meeting is clear for all of us that we need to work together to save the country.”

After the Opposition meet, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, “it is a battle of ideologies. Indeed, there will be differences amongst us but we have decided to work together and protect the ideologies shared by us.” - PTI

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the next Opposition meeting will be held in Shimla “to prepare an agenda on how to move ahead together while working in our respective states to fight BJP in 2024.” - ANI

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who was among more than 30 leaders to attend the Opposition meeting in Patna, said, “17 parties from Kashmir to Kanyakumari have come together not for power, but for principles.”

NCP chief Sharad Pawar siad, “just like JP movement, our united front will get blessings of the public.” PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “we can’t let Gandhi’s India to become Godse’s country.” - PTI

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after the joint Opposition meeting said, “we are united, we will fight unitedly...The history started from here (Bihar), BJP wants that history is changed. And we want history should be saved from Bihar. Our objective is to speak against this fascist government.” - ANI

After the conclusion of the Opposition meeting in Patna, Bihar CM and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar said that the Opposition parties have decided to fight the elections together. Mr. Kumar also said that the next meeting will be held soon. Other Opposition leaders are also expected to address the media.

According to sources, next meeting will be held in Shimla. - ANI

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis reacting upon the ongoing Opposition meeting in Patna said that all the dynast parties are forging alliances to save their families. “In this meeting, all dynast parties are forging alliances to save their families. Similar attempts were made in 2019 as well but to no avail and in 2024 also BJP will be making government with a complete majority,” said Mr. Fadnavis.

Further taking a jibe at former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Mr. Fadnavis said, “I am quite shocked by watching Uddhav Thackeray sitting next to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who previously use to question us (BJP) for having an alliance with PDP in Kashmir.” “In totality, all these parties have come to understand that that the kind of work Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last Nine years he is going whole nations backup when he will go for Lok Sabha Polls in 2024. And that’s why all these people are getting together in an attempt to offer power to the family,” Mr. Fadnavis added further. - ANI

Altogether 14 parties opposed to the BJP took part in the Opposition meeting. In the current Lok Sabha the combined strength of these parties accounts for less than 200 of the 543 seats, though their leaders are hopeful of together turning the tables on the saffron party which enjoys a brute majority with a 300 plus tally.

The Congress, which is seen as the principal rival of BJP, had won just a little over 50 seats, which was a slight improvement over its performance in 2014 when it won only 44 - an all time low. Two of the parties at the meeting - the RJD and CPI(ML) Liberation had failed to win a single seat in the last Lok Sabha polls. Among the other parties, only Trinamool Congress, DMK and JD(U) had secured double digit tallies. The Shiv Sena had won 18 seats but it remains unclear how many of the MPs remain with the faction headed by Uddhav Thackeray, who has joined Opposition unity chorus. - PTI

Telangana Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development and BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao said, “to believe that it is either BJP or Congress that has to lead is something that we don’t agree with.” “There has to be an alternate ideology,” the BRS leader added. - PTI

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“There is no vacancy for the post of PM in 2024. Opposition unity is a lie, it is just for photos. Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar fought against the Emergency imposed by the Congress but now they are joining hands with them,” Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Opposition parties are together going to defeat the BJP in the 2024 general elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said and claimed a battle was on between his party’s “’Bharat Jodo’ ideology and the BJP’s ‘Bharat Todo’ thinking”.

Accusing the BJP of working to “divide India and spread hate and violence”, he asserted that a fight of ideologies was going on in India. “On the one hand, there is the Congress’ ‘Bharat Jodo’ ideology and the BJP and RSS’ ‘Bharat Todo’ thinking is on the other hand,” Mr. Gandhi said while addressing a large gathering of Congress workers and leaders at the party office in the Sadaqat Ashram area in Patna.

That is why we have come here because the DNA of the Congress is in Bihar, the former party chief said. “All Opposition parties have come here and together we are going to defeat the BJP,” he said. - PTI

BJP president J. P. Nadda on June 23 took potshot at Opposition party huddle in Patna indicating the association was opportunistic and riddled with contradictions.

“I was surprised as all Opposition party leaders are embracing each other and meeting in Patna on June 23. It reminded me of my childhood days as I had my birth and schooling in Patna. It is the same Lalu Prasad Yadav who was sent to jail for 22 months by Indira Gandhi, grandmother of Rahul Gandhi and it is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was sent to jail for 20 months by Mrs Gandhi,” said Mr. Nadda addressing a public meeting in Bhawanipatna, district headquarter town of Kalahandi.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will form the government in 2024 by securing over 300 seats and becoming the Prime Minister again.

Addressing a public meeting in Jammu, Mr. Shah said, “No matter how many parties come for the meeting, they can never unite”. “Today a photo session is underway in Patna. They (the Opposition) want to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDA. I want to tell them that PM Modi will form his government in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls with more than 300 seats,” Mr. Shah, who arrived in Jammu on a two-day visit said. - ANI

he BJP derided the Opposition parties’ efforts to forge a front against it and said the Congress was seeking the support of others because it was “incapable of defeating Prime Minister Narendra Modi alone” in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani took a dig at JD(U) and other opposition parties, saying it was “ironic” that some of the leaders who witnessed the “murder of democracy” during the Emergency have assembled under the Congress’ parasol in Patna.

They have sent out a message that they are unable of taking on Modi on their own, she claimed. “I want to especially express gratitude to the Congress for openly announcing that it is incapable of defeating Modi alone. It needs support.” “Power has moved from the palace to the people. That’s why people who take pride in their political legacy now have to go to those whom they had put behind bars during Emergency,” Ms. Irani said In a veiled attack on Bihar Chief Minister Kumar. - PTI

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has dubbed the opposition meeting here as a “war cry” against a “fascist and autocratic regime.” The DMK chief has been in town since Thursday night for the meeting hosted by his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar.

He took to Twitter to express his delight over meeting Kumar, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, who received him at the airport, and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad. - PTI

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday (June 23) slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and accused the BJP leaders of spreading hatred and violence in the country. Mr. Gandhi was in Patna to take part in the Opposition meeting convened by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his official residence.

Before the Opposition meeting, Mr. Gandhi along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary in-charge of the organisation K.C. Venugopal reached Sadaquat Ashram, the Congress headquarters in Bihar, to address the party workers.

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