Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury, has said that the “Gandhi abroad and Godse in India” formula will not work for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP. Yechury made the remarks during a press conference in Patna after the conclusion of a meeting of opposition leaders. He was joined by other figures, including Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, who announced that the next meeting of like-minded parties will be held in Shimla to discuss a roadmap for the formation of an anti-BJP front for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Amongst those in attendance at the meeting were West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and party Chief Mallikarjun Kharge.
Yechury stated that the Constitution was under attack, adding that a united front was necessary to protect the fabric of the Indian republic. He also emphasized that the Government must do more to protect the rights of the nation’s citizens.
The Patna meeting was convened by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who later revealed that an additional meeting would be held soon and that opposition parties would fight the 2024 elections together. The meeting brought together leading figures to discuss the challenges facing the country and to formulate plans for change.
The gathering illustrates the growing sense of urgency amongst those who are concerned about the rising power of the BJP. The powerful Hindu nationalist party is seen as posing a serious threat to the future of India as a pluralistic democracy. The opposition parties appear committed to tackling the rise of nationalist movements and promoting the principles of inclusivity and democracy. Despite criticism of the BJP, however, the opposition faces a significant challenge in presenting a viable alternative that will appeal to the Indian electorate, which has shown increased support for the BJP in recent years.
