Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin's 70th birthday celebration on Wednesday turned out to be the unofficial launch of the Opposition's campaign for the 2024 General Elections. All the leaders who took part in the event including NC leader Farooq Abdullah, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge rejected the idea of a third front and called for Opposition unity to defeat BJP.
Addressing MK Stalin’s 70th Birthday celebration in Chennai, NC leader Farooq Abdullah talking to ANI said, “I hope you (MK Stalin) live long not only to serve Tamil Nadu but serve India as a whole...India is in a difficult situation. Democracy & Constitution is being threatened. Let's wake up.”
“I demand from him (MK Stalin) and all the leaders-wake up, unite and build a nation where all of us can live in honour, dignity and peace. It's the people of India that make the nation strong. It's not Army, Navy and Air Force. Let us get together and work in harmony,” he said.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also batted for Opposition unity for the welfare of the nation. Mallikarjun Kharge said, “All like-minded opposition parties must come together in this fight...I never said who'll lead or who will become PM. It's not the question. We want to fight together unitedly, this is our desire.”
Kharge said: “Congress-DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu led to Lok Sabha victories in 2004, 2009 and Assembly victories in 2006 and 2021. We should continue to strengthen our alliance and lead the foundation for the 2024 Lok sabha victory for the UPA alliance.”
“More than 23cr people have been pushed Below Poverty Lines because of the BJP govt's failure. The common man is hit by inflation, youth is hit by unemployment but BJP is interested in polarising the society to win elections,” he said.
Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav's called the current scenario in the state an undeclared emergency but the Opposition can defeat them. Tejashwi Yadav said, "Main agenda of a country are unemployment, inflation, assault on constitutional & hijack of all constitutional institutions. We have seen in past & they have not been following the constitution at all."
"Lalu ji has always said that this is not an emergency but an undeclared emergency, so we need to fight back... we can defeat them & it is not a big task," he said.