West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the Opposition will fight the BJP collectively "like a family". She said this after meeting RJD chief Lalu Yadav and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav. She also met former Bihar CM Rabri Devi. CM Banerjee arrived in Patna on Thursday evening for the Opposition's mega meeting on Friday.
"I want to thank the people of Bihar. I respect Laluji a lot. I am happy after meeting him, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav. He is a senior leader. He was in jail and hospital for many days, but Laluji Yadav is still fit and can fight against the BJP."
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At least 18 "like-minded" Opposition parties are likely to attend Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's mega meet on June 23 to discuss a common electoral strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While Mamata Banerjee arrived on Thursday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar will reach Patna on Friday morning.
Banerjee and TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will attend the Friday meeting of Opposition leaders called by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Patna on Friday. Earlier in the day, TMC spokesperson Riju Datta said, “Desh Ko Bachana Hai, BJP Ko Bhagana Hai (have to eliminate BJP and save the country).”
Akhilesh Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Stalin, Arvind Kejriwal, senior leaders from Congress and other parties will also be present at the meeting to decide on the strategy for 2024 polls. However, The platform for Opposition's unity is now in jeopardy as two national parties — the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress — are expected to lock horns over the Centre's Delhi services ordinance. Kejriwal is learnt to have said that he would walk out of the Opposition unity platform if Congress doesn't support the AAP against the Centre's ordinance on administrative officials' postings and transfers.