As many as 17 opposition parties met in Patna on Friday, June 23, 2023, to discuss a joint strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The parties resolved to fight unitedly against the BJP and set aside their differences.
They will meet again in Shimla next month to finalize their plans. The parties that attended the meeting included the Congress, the NCP, the RJD, the SP, the CPI, the CPI(M), the IUML, the JMM, the RLD, the JD(U), the Shiv Sena, the NC, the PDP, the AIUDF, and the RSP.
The meeting was chaired by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He said that the opposition parties had come together to defeat the BJP and its “divisive politics”. He called on the people of India to join the opposition’s fight against the BJP.
The BJP has been in power at the Centre since 2014. It has won two consecutive general elections, in 2014 and 2019. However, the party’s popularity has declined in recent months. It has been facing criticism for its handling of the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the farmers’ protests.
The opposition parties believe that they have a good chance of defeating the BJP in the 2024 elections if they can unite. However, they will need to overcome their differences and agree on a common agenda.
It will be interesting to see how the opposition parties’ joint strategy develops in the coming months. If they can unite and present a strong challenge to the BJP, it could be a close election in 2024.
