PARTIES MULL STRATEGIES AHEAD OF OPPOSITION MEETING IN PATNA

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will play host to Opposition parties in the state in the upcoming Opposition meeting on Friday. Party leaders are expected to discuss several issues, ranging from social justice to the alleged misuse of investigating agencies to the violence in Manipur, wrestlers' protests and even the Delhi ordinance.

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Political observers say Nitish might be aiming to position himself as a vital link in challenging the Centre- similar to stalwart Jayaprakash Narayan. However, this meeting will only be the first step towards what might manifest into a joint Opposition front to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP scored 303 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 which is 21 more than in 2014. Experts say it will not be easy for the Opposition to provide a strong counter to the BJP's past showings unless it comes up with a clear-cut "one seat, one candidate" formula in as many seats as possible. Notably, the party meeting will be the first time that parties like the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will share a common platform with the Congress party- which they have been vocally hostile towards. Officials say "only plans" will be discussed, hinting towards the possibility of a common statement.