Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav travelled to Kolkata and Lucknow on their renewed mission to form a united opposition to the BJP. They first met with Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to urge the formation of a conclave of non-NDA parties in Bihar, and then with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to emphasise that the cause, not the leadership role, was what mattered.
Nitish’s insistence on Congress being part of the initiative to send out the message that “we are in this together” apparently received Mamata’s nod during their 30-minute discussion at the state secretariat. “You do not have to worry about this. Everyone is together. The people of India will fight against BJP, and all parties will work together,” she later told reporters wanting to know her stand on working with Congress.
Describing the outcome of the meeting as “positive and constructive”, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said, “We do not know what they (BJP) will do – change history, change everything. We have to remain alert; hence these discussions. Depending on the need, we all will bring all parties together and discuss and decide the road ahead.”
Nitish reiterated to reporters in Lucknow what he allegedly told Akhilesh: that his unity initiative against the BJP should not be interpreted as an attempt to lead the pack.
“Humko nahi banna hai… yeh baat achchi tarah se jaan lijiye. Hum sabko khali ek jut karne mein lage hain (I am not there to become the leader of the opposition parties), please be clear about this. Am only working to bring everyone together),” the JD(U) founder said. “Once everyone gets on the same platform, they will decide who should lead.”