On the eve of the grand Opposition meeting in Patna, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called on Rashtriya Janata Dal founder Lalu Yadav at the residence of his son Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday. During the meeting, Mamata Banerjee sought Lalu Yadav’s blessings by touching his feet and also greeted former CM Rabri Devi.

The West Bengal Chief Minister was with her nephew MP Abhishek Banerjee and state minister Firhad Hakim.  

After meeting Lalu Yadav, Mamata Banerjee chose not to speak much about what was discussed in the Bihar Deputy CM’s residence. The Trinamool Congress leader, however, said the Opposition will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together against the BJP.

Responding to the growing conflict between the AAP and the Congress over the latter’s yet-to-be-declared support against the Centre’s Delhi ordinance, Banerjee said she believed that all opposition parties will fight together like a family against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The AAP and the Congress have been sniping at each other over the ordinance, with the AAP saying the Congress is deliberately delaying announcing its stand over the ordinance.

Banerjee added she had great respect for Lalu Yadav. She said he had been imprisoned for long and despite his age and added that she felt bad that such a thing had happened to the RJD leader.

She also recounted a humorous exchange she had had with Lalu Yadav when they were in the Lok Sabha together. Banerjee further said Lalu Yadav looked strong enough to take on the BJP while praying for his healthy and long life.

Earlier, Mamata Banerjee spoke to reporters after landing at Patna airport, she said she was hopeful of the meeting on Friday, June 23. She emphasised the importance of constructive dialogue among opposition parties and explained the need to defeat the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to safeguard the country.

A wide range of issues, spanning from social justice to alleged misuse of investigating agencies by the Centre, the almost two-month-long violence in Manipur, wrestlers’ protest, and the recent Delhi ordinance, are expected to be on the agenda for the opposition meeting scheduled in Patna on Friday.

Banerjee also called on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar later.

Ahead of the mega opposition meet, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday indicated on the agenda of the meeting saying he thinks the first agenda would be the Centre moved ordinance, which the Kejriwal is fighting for almost a month now.

A meeting of opposition parties is slated to take place on June 23 in Patna, convened by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal(United) leader Nitish Kumar.

Kejriwal while addressing a press conference said, he thinks that the first matter in the agenda will be the Centre’s ordinance, when the meet convenes.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader who has been mulling to get the support of Congress in its fight against the BJP-led Centre in regards to the ordinance, said he hopes all the parties going to attend the meet will ask Congress to clear its stand.

He added he will carry a copy of the Constitution along with him to the meeting.

Kejriwal also said the non-BJP ruled governments should not be in the misconception that as Delhi is an Union Territory, the ordinance could be brought for it and he will make them understand that it could happen with any states.

The Centre last month had moved an ordinance nullifying the judgement of the Supreme Court which had passed the order giving powers to the Delhi government of transfer and posting of government officials functioning under it.

Kejriwal has been fighting against the Union government since then, meeting a series of opoosition leaders pan India gathering their support to defeat the ordinance in Rajya Sabha, when it would be moved by the Centre as a Bill.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar in his bid to unite the opposition to fight against the BJP, who also have met a number of opposition party leaders across the country in the past months is ready to host the opposition leaders on Friday.

The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 12 but was postponed due to the engaged schedule of Congress national chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi’s US visit, who is likely to return back latest by today or tomorrow.

In a major blow to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, former Chief Minister Jitin Ram Manjhi’s party Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) withdrew its support from the Mahagathbandhan government in the state today.

There are high chances of Manjhi shaking hands with BJP and be a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Both Manjhi and his son and HAM national chief Santosh Suman are likely to fly to Delhi later today.

Suman while speaking to the media announced the decision and said he has sought the time from Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar to personally hand him over the letter of withdrawal of support from Nitish Kumar’s government.

During a press conference Suman said, he will fly to Delhi to look out the future options and also indicating on an alliance with the NDA said he is willing to consider an invitation if sent by the BJP headed coalition at the Centre.

Suman said the party is also looking out options for setting up a third front.

The decision comes just days after Suman’s resignation from the Bihar government. Suman on June 13 had resigned from Nitish Kumar’s cabinet, where he served as a Minister for Minor Irrigation and SC/ST, the lone minister from HAM in Kumar’s government.

Suman had then alleged pressure from Kumar’s Janata Dal(United) to merge his party.  

Reports said, the HAM leaders are also likely to hold meetings with BJP national president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The HAM, which was founded years ago by Manjhi has four MLAs and had joined the Mahagathbandhan last year, days after Nitish Kumar(then NDA ally) dumped the BJP and tied hands with Lalu Yada’s RJD and Congress forming a new government in Bihar under his leadership.

In the 243 Bihar assembly, Kumar’s ruling coalition has around 160 MLAs which comprises JD(U), RJD and Congress besides three left parties’ outside support.