Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday claimed that the efforts to unite the Opposition had been stalled because of the Congress and that several parties, including his Janata Dal United (JDU), were waiting for it to come forth about an alliance.

Nitish reminded that the Opposition parties had been patiently waiting for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra to get over, and asserted that the BJP would slip below 100 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls if a broad-based unity could be forged.

“The Yatra got over nicely. Now think beyond it. I am waiting for it. I have already met and told both of them (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi) to think of what to do ahead. I am getting phone calls from various parties asking to organise a joint meeting over the issue,” Nitish said.

“It’s for you to hurry up. I am waiting, else there are many parties that are willing to come together. It is for you to think about it. I want more and more people and parties to unite,” Nitish added.

The Bihar chief minister was speaking as the chief guest at a convention named Save the Constitution, Save Democracy, Save Country on the fourth day of the 11th all-India congress of the CPI-ML in Patna. Leaders of all Grand Alliance constituents — the JDU, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular, CPI and the CPM — were present.

Nitish’s words were directed at senior Congress leader and former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, who was representing his party at the convention.

“Since you are present here, I am appealing to the leadership of your party to take a decision as quickly as possible and call us for talks about where and with whom we have to ally to contest the next elections. The day you decide, we will come together to fight the polls. If you accept my suggestion, they (the BJP) will go below 100. If you do not then what will happen is up to you and others (other parties) to think about. I am not bothered,” Nitish told Khurshid.

“I met different parties and they discussed unity among themselves, but they are also seeing that the talks are not progressing. Now they again want to talk about it. If you all (Congress) decide on it this time, then you will benefit and the country will also benefit,” Nitish added.

He iterated that he has “no personal ambition other than uniting the country against the wrongdoers and getting rid of them. It is for you all to lead. I am ready to spend my life so that you all can work properly.” Khurshid agreed with the call for unity and pointed out that as far as he understood, the Congress’s top leadership also wanted what Nitish wanted.

“However, there could be a problem in love on who should propose first. We are ready (for unity), but an announcement should be made about it. I will take your message to my leaders. I am an advocate and will do the advocacy of unity as a very good proposal. It will change the environment and the direction of the wind. The people making tall talks will dive into their burrows,” Khurshid said.

The Congress leader expressed confidence that the desire in the hearts of everyone would be implemented.