Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the party has taken a 'historic step' towards bringing together opposition parties to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He was addressing media after a meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
“We will develop the vision of the opposition parties and move forward. We will all stand together for the country,” Rahul said, adding that they will take this vision to the people as they fight 'the ongoing ideological battle' together.
Th Congress leader said that a lot of issues were discussed and we “decided that we will unite all parties and fight the upcoming polls in a united manner.” The meeting at Kharge's residence comes amid talks of like-minded opposition parties coming together on a common platform to defeat the BJP in next year's Lok Sabha elections.
Reiterating Rahul's stand, Nitish Kumar said that the parties will make all efforts to decide the future course of action. JD(U) president Lalan Singh, Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Congress leader Salman Khurshid and RJD leader Manoj Jha were also present at the meeting. According to reports, JD(U), RJD and the Congress are in talks to bring other opposition parties together on a common platform in their fight against the BJP.
Kharge has spoken to several opposition leaders including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray recently. Soon after taking charge as the Congress chief, Kharge had said his party will try to forge an alliance of like-minded parties. Speaking at the Congress's 85th plenary session in February, Kharge alleged the there is a 'conspiracy to destroy democracy' and said that the Congress is working to unite everyone.
The Congress's meeting with Nitish and Tejashwi also comes a month after the meeting between Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav where they hinted at a possible' third front', without the Congress party.
