Patna Opposition Meet - Half Battle Won, Or Just One Tiny Step?

This is also the first-time parties like the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) - hostile towards the Congress - will share a common platform with the party.

From social justice to the alleged misuse of investigating agencies by the Centre to violence in Manipur, the wrestlers' protest and even the Delhi ordinance, several issues are likely to be discussed in the opposition meeting to be held in Patna on Friday.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is looking at a Jayaprakash Narayan (JP)-like role for himself, is set to play host to opposition parties. Patna and the JP movement, as we know, was instrumental in challenging the might of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974.

But this is just the first step towards what can result in some joint opposition to the BJP which scored 303 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 -- 21 more than in 2014. It won't be easy for the opposition to provide a strong counter to that unless it comes up with a clear-cut "one seat one candidate" formula in as many seats as possible.

This is also the first-time parties like the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) - hostile towards the Congress - will share a common platform with the party. That reflects the importance of the meeting.