Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has approached former NDA ally Shiromani Akali Dal and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to join the the Opposition's I.N.D.I.A alliance, sources told ABP News. In the upcoming Mumbai meeting of the Opposition bloc, Nitish Kumar is likley to propose to include these two parties in the alliance.
Nitish Kumar, his deputy Tejashwi Yadav and SAD's Sukhbir Badal are likely to attend a rally in Haryana's Kaithal on the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Devi Lal, former deputy prime minister and the founder of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).
On Sunday, Nitish said a "few more political parties" were likely to join the Opposition bloc during its third joint meeting in Mumbai, scheduled on August 31-September 1.
"We will discuss the INDIA bloc's strategies for next year's general elections during the upcoming meeting in Mumbai. Issues such as seat-sharing will be discussed and several other agendas will be finalised. A few more political parties will join our coalition," Kumar had told reporters, PTI reported.
READ | 'Just Want To...': Nitish Kumar On Possibility Of Being Made Convenor Of Oppn Bloc
No Desire To Become Convenor Of Oppn Bloc: Nitish Kumar
Kumar, who had embarked on a nationwide tour earlier this year in a bid to unite parties opposed to the BJP, said he no desire to become the convener of the I.N.D.I.A bloc, ANI reported.
"I don't want to become anything. I have been telling you this again and again. I have no such desire. I just want to unite everyone," Kumar told reporters on Monday.
The JD(U) leader also said that seat seat-sharing formula of the opposition bloc for the Lok Sabha election would be decided in the Mumbai meeting.
The 26-party I.N.D.I.A alliance was formed to jointly take on the ruling BJP at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and halt the Modi juggernaut. The bloc has met twice in less than one month -- first in Patna on June 23 and then in Bengaluru on July 17-18.