Patna, June 23 : In a major step towards forging national level unity to counter BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, top opposition leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee arrived here on Thursday, on the eve of the meeting of anti-BJP parties.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to reach Friday morning.
Banerjee called on RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi at their residence soon after reaching Patna. Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav was also present during Banerjee’s conversation with Lalu and Rabri at their 10, circular road residence.
“We are hopeful of opposition unity to counter BJP in next Lok Sabha elections”, Banerjee said adding that all attempts would be made to field one common opposition candidate against BJP in every seat in next year’s general elections.
Banerjee was happy to see Lalu win fine health after his kidney transplantation.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh have also arrived for opposition parties meeting. Stalin called on Lalu Prasad after his arrival.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held preliminary talks with Kejriwal, Banerjee and CPI(ML) leader Deepankar Bhattacharya regarding Friday’s meeting.
NCP leader Sharad Pawarand some other top opposition leaders are expected to arrive on Friday morning.
As it is, the meeting is being convened at the initiative of Chief Minister Kumar who had called on top opposition leaders recently, in his bid to forge a national level unity among opposition parties to counter BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He had earlier claimed that BJP would taste humiliating defeat if the opposition contested together.