Opposition parties to meet in Jaipur against NDA govt’s move to ‘create social disharmony’

While the Opposition camp remains weakened, political observers find a ray of hope in the fact that rivals such as the TMC and the CPI (M) have decided to close ranks to oppose the BJP at the national level.

Persisting with efforts to join forces against the BJP, leaders of 14 Opposition parties will converge at Jaipur next Thursday for the third edition of the “Saanjhi Virasaat” (shared culture) campaign to oppose the NDA government’s efforts to “create social disharmony”.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad with JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav at an opposition rally in Patna on August 27. (AP Dubey/HT File Photo)

While the Bahujan Samaj Party, Biju Janata Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party have so far kept away from these efforts, the silver lining has been the presence of the Congress representatives at these meetings that are being organised by rebel Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav.

While the Opposition camp remains weakened and fragmented, political observers also find a ray of hope in the fact that traditional rivals such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the CPI (M) have decided to close ranks to oppose the BJP at the national level.

Besides Anand Sharma of the Congress, participants at the Jaipur meet will include Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, Sitaram Yechury (CPM), Surjit Singh Salakhia (National Conference), Sukhendu Shekhar Roy (TMC), Babulal Marandi (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), Tariq Anwar (Nationalist Congress Party), Jayant Chaudhary (Rashtriya Lok Dal) and Manoj Jha of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

“But, instead of focusing on contentious issues, we have been concentrating on building a narrative on real issues confronting the farmers and the youth”, a senior JD (U) leader said.