17 Opposition Parties Come Together to Take on Indian PM Modi
The DiplomatWill they be able to stop the Modi-led BJP from winning a third term in the 2024 general elections? In this photo provided by Bihar state Chief Minister’s Office, Congress party President Mallikarjun Kharge, center, party leader Rahul Gandhi, second left, Bihar state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, second right, and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav attend a meeting in Patna, India, Friday, June 23, 2023. Last week, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar played host to 17 opposition parties in Patna, where participating leaders decided to set aside ideological differences and jointly fight the upcoming elections. Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge said that parties had to come together to “save the Constitution and democracy” from the Hindu supremacist BJP’s assault. However, the call for opposition unity was led and championed by a galaxy of opposition leaders who have been hounded by the BJP, including Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.