Patna: The much-delayed, highly-anticipated Opposition meeting is happening in Patna today to form a united alternative to take on the Modi-led BJP regime in the 2024 general elections. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikharjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (U) leader Uddhav Thackeray, TN CM M K Stalin, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal are attending the meeting being hosted by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.
Various issues like the ongoing violence in Manipur, misuse of the central institutions and undermining of the federal spirit may come up for discussion. Also, the leaders may discuss a roadmap for the formation of the much-talked-about anti-BJP front for next year's Lok Sabha elections. Shedding their persistent differences, both minor and major, the opposition leaders from across the country are coming on to a single platform today.
- 5.15 pm
BJP leader Sushil Modi said the meeting of the Opposition parties failed today as they only decided on when to meet next.
- 3.49 pm
Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis took a potshot at parties that attended the opposition meeting in Patna saying dynast parties are forging alliances to save families.
- 3.42 pm
Commenting on the Patna opposition meeting, JAP chief Pappu Yadav said the event is for 140 crore people in the country.
- 3.25 pm
On a day when Opposition parties bonded over unity meet in Patna to forge an anti-BJP alliance before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged party workers to put up a unified fight saying if Congress wins in Bihar, it will win in the country.
- 2.15 pm
Bharat Rashtra Samiti Working President and Telangana Minister K T Rama Rao, whose party skipped Patna Opposition Meeting, mounted pressure on Congress, asking as to why the grand old part is delaying taking a stand on the Central Ordinance relating to Delhi's administrative services. Read More - 1.20 pm
Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah dismissed the Opposition Unity Meeting as a mere 'Photo Session'. Amit Shah asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will retain power in the 2024 parliamentary polls for the third time and that Modi will come to power once more with more than 300 seats in the Lok Sabha. Read More - 12 noon
Opposition Unity Meeting at Patna, Bihar, begins amidst expectations over forming an alternative front to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. - 11 am
Bihar Congress State Unit meeting begins in Patna. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, AICC President Mallikharjun Kharge and other leaders take part. - 10.50 am
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar and CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechuri arrived in Patna for the opposition meeting. Earlier, before arriving here, Sharad Pawar said various burning issues, including the Manipur violence, will be discussed in the Patna meeting. The street violence and law and order problems being created in the non-BJP-governed States would be discussed, he said. - 10.15 am
Cong leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal arrive at Patna for the opposition meeting. - 9.50 am
In a poster war on the Patna opposition meeting, BJP calls Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a Devdas on the verge of causing greater damage to his party by sacrificing its political and electoral interests to different regional players for the sake of 'elusive' opposition unity. Read More - 9.30 am
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge earlier asserted that the Patna meeting's agenda would be to throw out the BJP government at the Centre by ensuring a joint fight by the opposition parties. Speaking to media persons, Kharge further said that Congress would take a decision on the Centre's Ordinance regarding Delhi civil services prior to the Parliament session. Read More - 9.00 am
BJP compared the Patna Opposition Meeting to a procession of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and asks whether who is the groom. Also, BJP says the opposition leaders are divided as all of them are claimants for the PM chair, who include Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, Nitish Kumar and Kejriwal. Read more
