Patna: Amid efforts to forge country-wide Opposition unity, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday hinted that a meeting of like-minded political parties could be organised in Patna after the Karnataka polls.
The Bihar chief minister said, "After the Karnataka elections are over, we will discuss the issue with the Opposition parties. If they agree, we could organise a meeting to discuss issues related to the formation of a larger alliance of the Opposition parties."
Mr Kumar added, "Political leaders are busy with the elections (in Karnataka). Once they are free, we will discuss and decide when to organise a meeting. If they agree to a meeting in Patna, then it will be held here".
The chief minister, along with deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, recently met West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and also called upon former UP CM and Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav to discuss Opposition unity.
It was Ms Banerjee who suggested that Mr Kumar should consider organising a meeting of the Opposition parties in Patna.
Speculation is also rife that RJD chief Lalu Yadav may play an important role in organising an Opposition meeting in Patna after the Karnataka polls are over. Hours after Mr Yadav landed in Patna on Friday, Mr Kumar met him at Rabri Devi’s residence.
It is not known what transpired during the meeting, but sources aware of the development said that both leaders discussed issues related to the formation of a larger grand alliance at the national level to take on the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Mr Kumar dumped the BJP and returned to the grand alliance fold in August last year.
Earlier, Mr Kumar had met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. The meeting was seen as a major step towards laying the foundation for a larger grand Opposition unity ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
"We are making efforts to unite the Opposition parties in the country against the BJP. I have already met many Opposition leaders. My aim is to unite a maximum number of Opposition parties before the elections in 2024. I will also meet other non-BJP parties soon", Mr Kumar said.
