Rahul Gandhi, Opposition leaders pledge to unite against BJP in 2024 elections

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has announced a significant step towards uniting opposition parties for the 2024 general elections, stating that the Congress party will collaborate with all parties in the fight against the BJP-led central government.

Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge met with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav in New Delhi to discuss the coalition government in Bihar and the formation of a common opposition platform.

Kumar also expressed his desire to unite as many parties as possible to work together in the future. The opposition parties are determined to stand together for the country in the upcoming elections, and Kharge described the meeting as historic.

Present at the meeting were Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the party's president Mallikarjun Kharge, Nitish Kumar, who is both Bihar's Chief Minister and a JDU leader, as well as Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister and RJD chairperson. Additionally, JDU president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, RJD's Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha, and Congress leader Salman Khursheed were also in attendance.

In addition to meeting with Kumar and Yadav, Gandhi has reached out to other opposition leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and is expected to meet with more top opposition leaders in the coming weeks.

Talking to reporters Rahul Gandhi termed the meeting a historic step to unite the opposition.

"This is a historic step to unite the opposition. We will develop the vision of the opposition parties and move forward… we will stand together for the country," Rahul Gandhi said.

The Congress president tweeted from his official handle, stating that the opposition leaders had pledged to raise the voice of the people and provide a new direction for the country. He added that they would protect the constitution and save the country.

Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had also spoken to DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, as well as former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, with opposition parties exploring new equations to challenge the incumbent BJP.

While some parties have clarified their stance on joining a front, others have sent mixed signals. The Trinamool Congress initially announced that it would contest the Lok Sabha polls alone, but appeared to be changing its stance after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as an MP following a criminal defamation case.

Trinamool chief and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee subsequently called on opposition parties to unite and remove the BJP from power.