30 August,2023 04:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Lalu Prasad Yadav arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday. Pic/ Sanjay Nirupam`s office
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said that decision regarding the appointment of a national convenor of the I-N-D-I-A bloc will be taken on Thursday. Lalu Prasad, who is currently in Mumbai to take part in the meeting of Opposition parties, said that the agenda is to prepare for the upcoming polls, ANI report stated.
"It will be decided tomorrow," Lalu Prasad said responding to a question and added, "The agenda will be to make preparations for the times ahead. Elections are approaching. If candidates have to be decided, we need to sit together."
The meeting being held in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is the third meeting of the Opposition bloc. The second meeting was held in Bengaluru in July wherein the group decided to call their alliance I-N-D-I-A.
Lalu Prasad Yadav reached Mumbai with his son Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.
Prior to his departure, the former Union minister used a Bihari slang and targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told reporters that the opposition parties were working to oust the BJP-led government, stated ANI report.
He was quoted saying, "Mumbai mein Narendra Modi ke nareti (throat) pe chadhne jaa rahe hain humlog. Narendra Modi ka nareti pakde huye hain hum, hatana hai [We are heading to Mumbai with motive to oust Narendra Modi.]."
Meanwhile, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi took a dig at Lalu Prasad and said that his actions are fuelled by his motive to make his con CM of Bihar after Nitish Kumar. He also said that the public will respond to their comments and recalled BJP's massive victory in 2014 and 2019 elections.
I-N-D-I-A or Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, a group of 26 Opposition parties, including Congress, came together with a motive to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The group convened the inaugural event in Patna in June and the subsequent meeting was held in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18. The Mumbai meeting is being hosted by the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction led by Uddhav Thackeray.
Reportedly, the Opposition parties will be unveiling the logo for the bloc on September 1 at 10.30 am. Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi will be holding a press conference on Wednesday.
The Opposition bloc will be attending an informal meeting on August 31 at 6.30 pm, ANI report stated adding that Uddhav Thackeray will be hosting a dinner for the leaders on the same day.
