West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a joint press conference after meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, in Kolkata, on April 24, 2023. Photo Credit: PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on April 24 and said that there is a need to send a message of unity to the opposition political parties.
Addressing a press conference along with Nitish Kumar at the West Bengal state secretariat, Ms Banerjee said, “We need to send the message that we are all in this together.” The Trinamool Congress president said that she wants the ‘BJP which has become a hero to become a zero’. “There is no question of arrogance or anything. We have to work collectively with everyone.”
Mr Kumar had met the Trinamool Congress President today along with Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav. The Bihar chief minister said the meeting with the West Bengal chief minister was “very positive”.
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“Opposition parties need to sit together and strategize before the next parliamentary election,” said Mr. Kumar. He said that those ruling the country have no concern for its development and only want their own publicity.
Ms. Banerjee said that just as Jayaprakash Narayan had given a call to remove the central government from Bihar, similarly all opposition parties in Bihar can meet and discuss. Asked whether the opposition parties have agreed to field a candidate against the BJP under the ‘1:1’ formula, Ms Banerjee said since the vision and mission are clear, everything will be sorted out.
Mr Kumar is expected to meet Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav later in the day. In an effort to bring the opposition parties together, Mr. Banerjee recently met Akhilesh YadavOdisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy.