The ruling grand alliance members on Saturday said that Bihar, which has played a historic role for such struggles, will show the way forward to build a large anti-fascist movement and solidarity.

Saturday’s convention was held in the context of continuing the larger unity being built in Bihar among the anti-fascist forces. All the major leaders of the grand alliance partners including the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar attended the convention.

Speaking on this occasion, Nitish Kumar said that the present regime at the Centre is working in its own interest, and to fight against this, seven parties joined in the interest of the country.

 “The decision we have taken towards the Mahagathbandhan has gone well with the people, so we will continue to work like this together. But we have a greater responsibility beyond Bihar, and in the light of the 2024 elections, we must get together and get rid of the present BJP regime,” CM Nitish said.

Talking about his old association with the CPI-ML, Nitish said, “We have been together with the struggles and people of CPIML and we assure you all that we will be there in the future as well. We will continue to work together”.

Pointing towards senior Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid, who was present on the dais, the CM said the padyatra undertaken by Rahul Gandhi has gained good response all over. Now, it’s high time we thought beyond it and it demands the call for greater unity.

 “Please convey my message to the party leadership to invite us for further talk for unity. I am still waiting for your party call,” he said addressing Khurshid.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Tejshwi Prasad Yadav said, ”Despite the attack on us, we came together in Bihar to teach BJP a lesson and establish unity based on the country’s interest”.

“We have said it time and again that in places where regional parties are strong they should be given the driving seat and wherever there is a two-sided fight between the Congress and the BJP, we will support Congress,” he said.

The senior Congress leader and the former union minister, Salman Khurshid, said, “Our unity will scare them to retreat. As against the hate model of BJP, Bihar model of Opposition unity will show the way forward. He assured the people of Bihar that he will take forward the message of unity in the Congress party, which is also ready to build opposition unity.”

CPI ML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, while welcoming the leaders, said, “The point of this convention is very clear – if the constitution and democracy are in danger, there is a need for decisive struggle to save them from fascist forces and we need a grand unity for that.”

“Time and again Bihar has shown how Opposition is built both on the streets and electorally,” Bhattacharya said, and added that the convention being called as part of the 11th party congress is a clarion call for resistance and opposition to the “emergency-like” situation in the country.