Bihar chief minister and key leader of INDIA bloc Nitish Kumar is scheduled to visit Calcutta later this month to speak at a national symposium to commemorate the death anniversary of CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu.

Nitish’s scheduled visit assumes significance in the backdrop of the Opposition’s concerted effort to put up a united fight in the Lok Sabha polls against “the BJP’s attempt to undermine the Constitution and destroy democratic institutions”.

JDU sources told The Telegraph on Saturday that Nitish had accepted an invitation from the Jyoti Basu Centre for Social Studies and Research to address a symposium to be held to mark the 15th death anniversary of the CPM patriarch and a foundation stone-laying ceremony for the institute’s building at New Town.

“Nitish-ji will be in Calcutta on January 17 to speak at the national symposium on Jyoti Basu at the invitation of the CPM,” a senior JDU leader said over the phone from Bihar.

Asked if the CPM had invited Nitish to address the symposium on January 17, CPM Bengal unit secretary Md Salim confirmed it to The Telegraph on Saturday.

“Yes, we have invited the Bihar chief minister to speak at the national seminar on January 17 but we will announce details of the event after tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) Brigade rally. We have sent him an email invitation and his response is awaited,” Salim said.

Mamata Banerjee. File picture

Asked if the choice was prompted by Nitish’s role in forging unity among INDIA bloc partners, Salim said: “Jyoti Basu was once India’s longest-serving chief minister and Nitish also has a long tenure as CM. Plus, he is also a socialist.”

Though Salim said the symposium had everything to do with Basu and nothing with the Lok Sabha polls, the likely topic for Nitish’s speech speaks of a different reality — “Challenges before secular, democratic Republic: Jyoti Basu’s role and our duty”.

The invite is significant for anti-BJP allies. Recently, at a JDU meeting, Nitish vented his frustration with INDIA for not listening to his suggestions. JDU sources said “disarray” among key INDIA
players in forming a unified strategy against the BJP annoyed Nitish. Sensing his unhappiness, the Congress had reportedly come up with the idea to make Nitish the alliance convener, which other partners of the alliance broadly agreed upon.

JDU sources could not confirm if Nitish will meet his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee, a key INDIA leader, during his Calcutta visit.