Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Monday as efforts to strengthen the opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections gathered further momentum. The three leaders discussed the roadmap to form a united front against the BJP in the national level and a possible meeting of the non-BJP parties.
The meeting was held at Kharge's 10, Rajaji Marg residence. Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal and JD(U) chief Lalan Singh were also present during the meeting.
Venugopal later told reporters that a "vast majority" of non-BJP parties will meet soon and that the venue and date of the meeting will be announced in a day or two.
Kharge said he discussed the current political situation with Nitish. "The country will be united now. The strength of democracy is our message. Rahul Gandhi and myself discussed the current political situation with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today and took forward the process of giving a new direction to the country,” he said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, reports said that the Congress party is likely to support Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his tussle with Centre over the control of administrative services in the national capital. According to an NDTV report, the Congress will oppose the bill which the Centre is likely to bring in the monsoon session of parliament to ratify its ordinance.
Venugopal, however, took to Twitter clarifying that the party has not taken any decision in this regard. “The Congress Party has not taken any decision on the issue of the Ordinance brought against the SC judgment on the powers of the Government of NCT of Delhi with respect to appointment of officers,” he said, adding that the party will consult its state units and other like-minded parties on the issue.
“The party believes in the Rule of Law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontation, political witch-hunt and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party,” Venugopal said.
The Narendra Modi government on Friday promulgated an ordinance to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of IAS and DANICS cadre officers and disciplinary proceedings against them in the national capital.
Nitish, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday to meet leaders of different parties, met Kejriwal at his residence and promised his support to the Delhi government over the Ordinance issue. The Bihar CM said he would also request other opposition parties to come in support of the AAP government.
Kejriwal, who is also making an all-out effort to garner the support of opposition parties to defeat the bill in parliament, will meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray later this week.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav have already come in support of Kejriwal over the issue.
Last week, the swearing-in of Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka had turned into a show of strength by the opposition with several leaders, including Nitish, Pawar, RJ(D) leader Tejashwi Yadav, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah attending the ceremony.