Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday reiterated senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's stance and said that a decision on fielding one common candidate on all the 450 constituencies in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 will be taken up by non-BJP parties at a meeting called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 12. He also said that Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar will attend the meeting.
"Whatever P Chidambaram has said is true. Non-BJP parties will take a decision regarding it in the meeting called by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 12. Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar will attend the meeting, said Uddhav Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut while speaking to news agency ANI.
Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram spoke about the likelihood of opposition parties fielding one common candidate against the BJP on all Lok Sabha constituencies at the meeting called by Nitish Kumar in Patna. However, he said it is still an "aspiration" and is a "work in progress".
"...In my view, if the non-BJP Opposition parties get together, it is possible that in 450 seats we can field one common candidate against the BJP. But that is an aspiration. Parties are meeting in Patna on June 12. It is a work in progress. It will happen but it will take some time," said Chidambaram, as reported by ANI.
About 24 opposition parties are likely to participate in the meeting called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on June 12. The JD (U) leadership has already discussed the plan with 18 parties, while they are in consultation with the remaining seven, reported ABP News.
Kumar has been pitching for "opposition unity" for the Lok Sabha election to be held in 2024 ever since he broke ties with the BJP in August last year.