Nitish Kumar

An indication to this effect was given by senior JD(U) leader Dhananjay Singh who said that party workers in Uttar Pradesh wanted Nitish Kumar to contest from the seat. JD(U) leaders feel that Phulpur constituency -- earlier represented by former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and V.P. Singh

Trinamool insiders said that as per the present schedule, the Chief Minister is likely to reach Patna on the evening of June 11, which is a day ahead of the crucial opposition meeting. However, it was tight-lipped about the reasons for the Chief Minister's early arrival and whether there is any possibility of any separate meeting of her with any leader of any non-BJP party or her counterpart of any non-BJP ruled state.

The Monday meeting of Nitish Kumar is being seen as the major push to bring non-BJP, like-minded parties together ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. After the meeting, Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal told the media: "We will decide the date and place for the meeting for the opposition party meeting.

"Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav are in Bangalore for the swearing-in ceremony and no one is objecting to it but where is the opposition unity? Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik gave it a miss. Instead of attending it herself, Mamata Ji has sent her party representative.

"The matter is in court, hence I don't want to comment on it. Let's see what is happening. We have taken the suggestions of all parties before starting the survey. Whatever decision was taken on caste based cum economic survey, it was not the decision of the state government but it is a decision of all parties.

Firebrand BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that he respects the court order. "I don't want to comment on the court's decision. I am not against the caste-based census in Bihar." Interacting with media persons at Patna airport, he said that Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad have been in power in Bihar for the last 35 years and "should disclose how many jobs they have given to Dalits, Mahadalits, EBCs at the panchayat and block level".

The Congress has sent invitations to Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav and they have accepted it. The swearing-in ceremony will start at 12.30 pm on May 20 where Siddaramaiah will take oath as Chief Minister and D.K. Shivakumar will take the oath of Deputy Chief Minister. Some ministers are also like to be sworn in.

"Those (Bageshwar Baba) who are talking about such things (Hindu nation) were not born when the country became independent and the Constitution was implemented. Would they change the name of the country? We have 7 communities in the country and everyone has the equal right to believe in their respective religions. We never make any obstructions to any. We respect every religion and they are free to worship their gods," he said after the inauguration of the Transport Department's new building here.

"When all opposition unites to fight, there will be a direct contest (against the BJP). We can get good success and the country can head in the right direction," remarked Nitish Kumar, who was accompanied by his Janata Dal-U's national Secretary Kapil Patil and others.

Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, accompanied by JD-U national President Lalan Singh and Bihar Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha, went to Jharkhand by a special aircraft. The basic idea of this initiative to make opposition parties which are stronger in their states should come in a position to defeat the BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.