Lok Sabha

However, Nitish Kumar clarified that he is not a Prime Ministerial candidate of the opposition parties but he might play the role of UPA convener by following in the footsteps of his senior leader late George Fernandes. George Fernandes played a major role in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formation in 1998. At that time the Congress was ruling at the Centre and the opposition parties were scattered.

According to party sources, of the many pieces of advice given by Shah, the main is that the party's state leadership should be more self-reliant by bridging the organisational gaps and shed excessive dependence on the BJP high-command. Party insiders said that the Home Minister has specifically asked the BJP to start the process of strengthening the booth-level committees and reactivating the defunct ones before the panchayat polls scheduled this year.

"If the people of West Bengal gift BJP 35 seats in 2024, then they will not have to wait even till 2026. Mamata Banerjee's government will collapse even before that," Shah said at a public rally at Suri in Birbhum district of West Bengal. However, during his 20-minute speech, the Home Minister did not utter a single word about the forthcoming polls for the three-tier panchayat system in West Bengal which is scheduled in 2023 only.

The aim behind the initiative is to portray the pro-poor and common man friendly image of the government, by highlighting the several people-oriented schemes of the Centre, sources privy to developments said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. The meeting took place at Kharge's residence. After the meeting, the four addressed the media jointly.

One important condition for retaining the national party status is that the political party concerned should have two per cent of the total Lok Sabha seats and that should be from three Indian states. In case of Trinamool Congress, although it has more than two per cent of the total Lok Sabha seats, they are all from the single state of West Bengal.

Just a one-liner came from party spokesman Kunal Ghosh, who said that it is too early to make any comment on the ECI's decision. "The party leadership will review the development before making any detailed statement in this matter," Ghosh said. Senior Trinamool leader and three-time Lok Sabha MP Saugata Roy, while claiming that the party leadership will take a final decision in this matter, said that the ECI's decision will surely be opposed.

Addressing a joint press conference by 19 opposition parties, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that there should not be an obsession over the leadership among opposition parties."The issue of leadership will arise when the time is ripe. It will be a collective decision," he further added."We will unitedly fight polls as people are fed up with Modi government's policies".

After appointing Chittorgarh MP C.P. Joshi as the Rajasthan BJP President, the party on Sunday named Rajendra Rathore as the Leader of Opposition, while Satish Poonia has been appointed as Rathore's deputy in the Assembly. While Joshi is a Brahmin, Rathore is a Rajput leader while Poonia hails from a Jaat background.

As soon as the House reconvened at 2 p.m after the first adjournment, Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the chair, allowed laying of papers even as Opposition members rushed to the well, shouting slogans and showing placards, seeking a probe in the Adani matter. Trinamool Congress members also protested by standing near their benches.