After the formation of RJD-JD(U) government in Bihar, Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav made known his choice, that of Nitish Kumar, as the PM face if opposition parties agreed to consider Nitish’s candidature against Narendra Modi for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Tejashwi expressed his appreciation and said that for the last 50 years, Nitish has been a social and political activist, having participated in both the JP and the Mandal movements, and that he had more than 37 years of vast parliamentary and administrative experience while enjoying immense popularity and goodwill on the ground as well as among his peers. JD(U) leader Upendra Kushwaha, while giving his consent, declared: “Nitish-ji, go ahead. The country is waiting for you.” On the other hand, Lalan Singh, who is a close aide of the Bihar Chief Minister, said it was important to focus on opposition unity rather than squabble over who would be the prime ministerial candidate. Nitish Kumar’s break-up with the BJP and return to the opposition fold have revived talk about him as a consensus candidate for the 2024 general election. However, it depends on the UPA and various regional parties whether or not they would extend support to Nitish Kumar.
UDDHAV THACKERAY CHAIRS MVA STRATEGY MEET FOR BMC POLLS
The sincere efforts of NCP chief Sharad Pawar started bearing fruits as leaders from the three parties Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Congress consented to contest the local body elections in alliance, wherever possible. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said the Maha Vikas Aghadi, his party’s coalition with the Congress and NCP, continues despite being removed from power in Maharashtra. He chaired the MVA meeting at the Shiv Sena’s office inside Assembly, where the leader of opposition Ajit Pawar, and others like Nana Patole, Jayant Patil, Chagan Bhujbal, Prithviraj Chavhan, Ashok Chavan, Eknath Khadse and opposition party MLAs were present. On being asked whether the MVA would fight the BMC polls together, Uddhav replied, “We all are united, there are no differences within MVA. We met after a long time; we will sit together and discuss this further.”
CAN OPPOSITION IN UTTAR PRADESH UNITE BEFORE NEXT LOK SABHA POLLS?
Nitish Kumar’s announcement of quitting the BJP-led NDA and joining hands with the RJD to form the government in Bihar has been welcomed by Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav. However, SP has not expressed any intent to work with a similar realignment in Uttar Pradesh. Congress leader and former MP P L Punia, nevertheless, still has hope for something along the lines of Bihar in Uttar Pradesh. Punia said that if the Opposition parties could unite against the BJP in Bihar, then why not in Uttar Pradesh? SP leader and former minister Narad Rai claimed that about 150 MLAs had expressed discontent within the BJP. The grapevine is that opposition parties in UP are trying to form a coalition before the next general elections.
CWC TO VITUALLY MEET ON AUG 28, PICK DATES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
After the sudden resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from the party, the Congress is in a tizzy to image-correct at the earliest. It had announced a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and the same would be held virtually on Sunday, August 28, to approve the exact schedule of dates for the election of the next Congress president. Sonia Gandhi who has gone abroad for her medical checkup along with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, will preside over the crucial meeting. With Rahul not keen to return and Sonia also expressing her desire not to continue in the post citing health reasons, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot is being seen as the front-runner. However, Gehlot has reasserted that there was no question of anyone other than Rahul Gandhi leading the party. The other names are in discussion are of Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mallikarjun Kharge.
RAHUL GANDHI’S ‘BHARAT JODO YATRA’ TO COMMENCE ON SEPTEMBER 7
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had a meeting with civil society members at a conclave where the plans for the party’s upcoming Bharat Jodo Yatra, which will begin on September 7, and will span from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, were shared and formulated upon. Several prominent civil society members and political leaders, including Aruna Roy, Syeda Hameed, Yogendra Yadav, Jairam Ramesh and Digvijaya Singh, were present during the meeting held at the Constitution Club of India in Delhi. According to Congress sources, after paying homage and meditating on September 7 at the Sriperumbudur memorial, the site of assassination of his father Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would launch the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Kanyakumari, The padayatra (foot march) will cover 12 states and two Union territories. It will be about 3,500-km long and will be completed in about 150 days. (IPA Service)