Mega Opposition Meet In Patna: What To Expect, Who All Are Attending

The stage is set for the much-awaited opposition meeting in Patna on June 23 to chalk out a roadmap for the formation of an anti-BJP front for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to play host to opposition parties.

Top leaders of about 20 Opposition parties from across the country are set to attend this mega event, which is expected to turn into a show of strength against the NDA government.

The meeting was being seen as a first step towards united opposition to take on the Narendra Modi-led BJP.

This is also the first-time parties like the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) indifferent towards the Congress - will share a common platform with the party.

Opposition unity

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken the lead in speaking to several regional satraps besides the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and the Left to forge unity among opposition ranks to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Who will be attending?

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, and Left leaders will be attending the meeting.

Who will skip mega opposition meet?

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has decided to stay away from the meeting of Opposition leaders being convened by JDU chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23.

The Biju Janata Dal of Odisha, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the YSR Congress Party are among the non-BJP parties which are likely to give the meeting a miss.

Opposition meet in Patna: Agenda

The main agenda of the opposition meeting in Patna is how to strike alliances in different states effectively to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.

In West Bengal, the TMC sees the Congress as one of its key challenges. In Delhi, the Congress positioned itself staunchly against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of AAP, which ended its 15-year rule in 2013.

The meeting also comes amid a churn in the ruling coalition in Patna as well with one of the 'Mahagathbandhan' allies and former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi walking out of the alliance and crossing over to the NDA.

Issues likely to be discussed

The opposition leaders are likely to discuss the alleged misuse of investigating agencies by the Centre to violence in Manipur, the wrestlers' protest and even the Delhi ordinance, and social justice in Patna on Friday.

During the mega opposition meeting, Nitish Kumar is likely to urge everyone to present their opinions on drawing up a strategy on how to fight the BJP as one for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

One Seat, One Contest: Nitish is likely to propose to have a common candidate against the BJP in each of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies to defeat the saffron camp.

While political pundits believe that it is difficult that all opposition parties could agree to field a common candidate, they are hopeful that the formula will work in at least 450 seats.

Seat-sharing formula: The meeting could also deliberate on the seat-sharing formula for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Leadership challenge: The opposition parties would present a collective leadership instead of choosing one candidate against PM Modi.

Regional parties: The opposition parties will also deliberate on the role of regional parties in the 2024 general elections if opposition parties want to challenge the BJP.

Common Minimum Programme: All opposition parties are expected to forge unity based on a common minimum programme to provide an alternative to the Narendra Modi-led Union government.

Next meeting date: The parties may also decide on a date for the next meeting and appoint senior leaders who could act as representatives in the backchannel talks before the general polls.