[ad_1]
By Rohit Kumar Singh: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will visit Mumbai on May 11 to meet NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. He is likely to invite them to participate in the Opposition meeting to be held in Patna on May 17 or 18, after the Karnataka Assembly election.
The visit was finalized after Nitish had a telephonic conversation with both leaders on Saturday. Sharad Pawar also confirmed on Monday that he would meet Nitish, adding that their outlook is that the country needs an “alternative” to the current BJP-led government.
“I have received a message that Nitish Kumar will visit Mumbai on May 11. We will meet, though I do not have all the details with me. Our outlook is that an alternative (to the BJP government) is needed in the country,” Sharad Pawar said. “Those who wish to contribute to it, be it Nitish or Mamata (West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress leader), in my view we all need to work together for the same,” he added.
ALSO READ | After Mamata’s proposal to Nitish, big Oppn meet likely on May 18 in Patna; Sharad Pawar, Uddhav to attend
Bihar Legislative Council Chairman and Janta Dal United (JDU) leader Devesh Chandra Thakur had also met Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai last week.
Before landing in Mumbai, Nitish Kumar is scheduled to visit Bhubaneswar on May 9 to meet Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to hold consultation on Opposition unity. He is also likely to meet Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren on the same day.
Nitish Kumar has taken up the initiative to forge Opposition alliance ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He had last month met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. During this visit, he also held consultations with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Left party leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja. Nitish has also met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav as a part of similar efforts.
[ad_2]
