Kolkata (West Bengal): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who have taken upon themselves the task of uniting Opposition forces against the BJP-led government at the Centre, arrived here on Monday afternoon to meet West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee. After landing at the airport, Kumar and Yadav went to the state secretariat 'Nabanna' where the duo will be holding a meeting with Banerjee. The three leaders will be holding a closed-door meeting to strategise on fighting the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, officials said.
Banerjee held similar meetings with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and former Karnataka chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy last month. In a bid to unite the opposition parties ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Kumar met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and its president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi earlier this month.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rahul said it was a "historic step" towards Opposition unity and for an "ideological fight". Rahul, who posted a picture of himself with Kharge and JDU and RJD leaders, said they are "standing together, will fight together for India". "In this battle of ideology, a historic step has been taken today towards Opposition unity. (We are) standing together, will fight together - for India!" Rahul Gandhi had said in a tweet after the meeting Nitish Kumar.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and Janata Dal-United president Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh was also present at the meeting held at Kharge's residence. CM Mamata Banerjee is also leaving no stone unturned in closing in ranks with other parties ahead of the 2024 polls, as she met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at her residence in Kolkata last month. (With agency inputs)
