Nitish Kumar predicts early Lok Sabha polls due to fear of opposition unity

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar indicated on Tuesday that early Lok Sabha elections are on the horizon due to the BJP’s growing concerns over a united opposition. This revelation comes just days ahead of a critical meeting by the Opposition I.N.D.I.A grouping in Mumbai, aimed at discussing alliance strategies and seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections.

Nitish Kumar’s statement echoes a similar claim made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “I have been saying it for the last seven-eight months that the NDA government at the Centre might go for early Lok Sabha polls, fearing more loss to the BJP because of opposition unity,” Nitish Kumar told reporters. Opposition unity and early Lok Sabha elections have thus become intertwined as key phrases in the current political narrative.

Nitish Kumar says early Lok Sabha polls likely due to BJP’s fear of opposition unity. Photo courtesy of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (GODL-India)/Wikimedia Commons.

RJD president Lalu Prasad, who reached Mumbai for the I.N.D.I.A meeting, ratcheted up the tension by saying, “We are catching Narendra Modi by his throat; we are going to tighten our hold.” The Opposition meeting, aimed at strengthening opposition unity, plans to launch its logo, thereby inviting regional parties to join the alliance.

Amid the mounting political drama, the NDA coalition in Maharashtra has announced its meeting on September 1, coinciding with the I.N.D.I.A meeting. However, Tatkare dismissed claims that the scheduling was a tactical move to distract attention from the Opposition’s gathering. He stated that the date had been decided long in advance.

Adding more context, senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan confirmed that around 26 to 27 parties will be attending the I.N.D.I.A meeting. “An informal gathering will be held on the evening of August 31 in Mumbai, followed by a formal meeting on September 1,” Chavan outlined.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar was also seen visiting the venue, spending over an hour overseeing preparations for the Opposition’s I.N.D.I.A meeting. As opposition unity becomes a focal point, both the BJP-led NDA and the Opposition are clearly setting the stage for what promises to be a politically charged Lok Sabha election season.