Opposition Unites Under 'Nitish Formula' To Take On BJP Government In 2024 General Elections: Report

Leaders from the Congress, Janata Dal (United), and Rashtriya Janata Dal convened a meeting in Delhi with the aim of forming a strong opposition front for the 2024 general election, to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to the report, it was decided in the meeting that the outreach to various opposition players would follow the divide and conquer strategy.

The Congress party will focus on reaching out to friendly and like-minded parties such as Uddhav Thackeray's faction of Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

On the other hand, Nitish Kumar has taken on the crucial task of engaging with parties that maintain an equal distance from the BJP and the Congress. This includes the Aam Aadmi Party, K Chandrashekar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi, and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

Kumar has already met with Kejriwal, who said he is "completely with him" and that it is necessary for the opposition to unite and "change the government at the Centre".

The Janata Dal United (JDU), led by Kumar, has proposed the "Nitish formula" for opposition unity.

"The only way to win against Narendra Modi is to follow a one against one policy in 2024, which means one seat, one candidate from the opposition against the BJP candidate," said senior Janata Dal United leader KC Tyagi, reported NDTV.

The JDU believes that this strategy has delivered results in the past, in 1977 and 1989. However, in both these cases, the Congress party returned to power within two years, said Tyagi.

"We will be sitting and discussing various formulas and are willing to have various strategies in the run-up to 2024. The idea is for all like-minded opposition parties to come together on a common meeting ground," said Nasir Hussain, a Congress MP who was present at the meeting, according to the report.

Left leaders have stated that the idea is for "secular, democratic forces" to unite and maximize the anti-BJP vote. Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has expressed interest in joining the opposition coalition and plans to meet with Congress and JDU leaders in Delhi.

Whereas, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, has been tasked with the responsibility of communicating with Samajwadi Party leader, Akhilesh Yadav.

Also Read: Maharashtra: Sharad Pawar Meets Uddhav Thackeray; Urges MVA Leaders To Speak With One Voice In Public