New Delhi (Agency): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has voiced his agreement with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that the Lok Sabha elections might be held earlier than expected. Both leaders believe that the possibility of early elections is growing because the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fears it will face losses due to increasing unity among opposition parties.
Mamata Banerjee had expressed her concerns on Monday, suggesting that the elections could happen as early as December this year or January of the next year. When asked about Banerjee’s statement, Nitish Kumar told reporters, “I’ve been saying for the last seven to eight months that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre might go for early Lok Sabha polls.”
Kumar emphasized the importance of opposition unity to counter the BJP in the upcoming elections. “All opposition parties must come together to defeat the BJP,” he stated. “I have no personal ambitions. My only wish is to unite the maximum number of parties against the BJP.”
The Bihar Chief Minister, who has hinted that more parties are likely to join the opposition coalition named INDIA, chose not to provide further details. “The opposition coalition INDIA will get stronger after the Mumbai meeting on August 31 and September 1,” Kumar said.
These remarks were made after Kumar inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda Open University. He also spoke about the recent caste-based survey conducted in Bihar. According to him, the survey’s data is being compiled and will soon be published. This data aims to help the government understand which sections of society, especially those who are deprived, require more focused development.
The decision to conduct this caste-based survey was unanimous among all political parties, including the BJP, Kumar said. He questioned why the central government had not yet completed the national census, which was supposed to be done in 2021. “Why is the Centre maintaining silence over the delay in the census? They should say something about it,” he urged.
As the political landscape heats up with speculation about the timing of the Lok Sabha elections, the recent comments from the Chief Ministers of Bihar and West Bengal add a new layer of intrigue. Their call for opposition unity could be a significant factor in the lead-up to the elections, setting the stage for intense political battles ahead.
