Oppn big guns roar in one voice: Will fight BJP unitedly

NT Bureau, Agencies Patna

Drawing the battle lines, opposition parties on Friday resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in 2024 Lok Sabha elections at a crucial meeting here, even as fissures emerged with the AAP asserting that it would be difficult for it to be part of any such gathering in future till the Congress publicly supports it on the ordinance issue.

At a joint press meeting, opposition parties said they would fight the polls on a common agenda and state-wise strategy, setting aside their differences with a flexible approach.

The plan of action is expected to be formulated at the second meeting to be chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, on July 10 or 12, in Shimla.

"We will have to evolve separate plans for every state and we will work together to dethrone the BJP at the Centre," Kharge said. Launching a blistering attack on the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee claimed that if the "dictatorial government" at the Centre returns to power this time, there will be no elections in future.

Over 32 leaders of more than a dozen political parties attended the meeting hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his 1, Aney Marg residence here. The BJP reacted strongly to the Opposition meeting, calling it a "multi-headed selfish alliance" and compared it with wolves hunting in packs.

Despite repeated assertions by the opposition that they were united, fissuress became apparent when AAP issued a statement claiming that the Congress has "refused" to publicly denounce the Centre's ordinance on Delhi's administrative services.

Rahul Gandhi said that he was attending the meeting with a clean slate "without any memory of past likes or dislikes with any of the parties in attendance."

Banerjee said it was important for all parties to ensure support for the Congress wherever the party was the strongest. RJD chief Lalu Prasad suggested the opposition fight should be led by the biggest party in each state and requesting the Congress to be generous in sharing seats.