Expectation from them has been so low that their arrival followed by a five - hour long huddle and discussion on their much publicised need to chalk out a strategy for a united fight against BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls can be considered a forward move.

In any case, nothing extra ordinary was expected to happen in the first meeting of opposition leaders in Patna on Friday.Now, wait for the second meeting expected next month.

However, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has succeeded in hosting the crucial meeting successfully. The meeting, attended by leaders of most of the non-BJP parties, regional and national, and planned to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the next year's general election unitedly.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, Maharashtra's former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar are among the leaders who attended this first high-level opposition meeting.

After the meeting ended, three points were worth taking note of.One,they have agreed to prepare the first draft of unity- or a road map for a united fight against BJP.

Two,explain in this draft a seat - sharing formula to ensure a one-on-one contest between Opposition parties and the BJP in as many seats as possible - target being 450 of the total 543 LS seats.

Three, draft to describe Common Minimum Programme of the Opposition front. 

They did not discuss who will be their leader. Or who will be the Prime Ministerial candidate.The media was kept out of their closed door meeting held inside CM Nitish Kumar official residence.
 
Kumar is learnt to have suggested that the opposition members should not criticise each other in public and unite on common issues of national concern.

However, none of these opposition leaders explained as to how the interest of the party and the interest of the united opposition front will be tackled in seat- sharing at the constituency level.

In effect, their next step to be announced by them, will be worth watching. Today, before taking part in the Patna meeting,Congress leader Rahul Gandhi opined that united Opposition will defeat the BJP.

Alongside,the BJP has hit out at the Opposition meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah calling it a 'photo session'.