Kolkata/IBNS: "All parties should prepare for the next parliamentary elections and work together for the benefit of the country," said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee after holding a closed-door meeting over Opposition unity here on Monday.

Nitish along with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav flew down to Kolkata and held a meeting with Mamata at the latter's office Nabanna.

"All parties should start preparing for the next parliamentary elections and work together for the benefit of the country," said Nitish and added, "The party which is in power is only interested in their own campaigning."

"We had a positive discussion," the Janata Dal (United) chief said.

Supporting Nitish, Mamata, who heads the Trinamool Congress, said, "It is not a matter of our personal ego. We want to work together."

Mamata has also requested the JDU chief to call a meeting of all opposition parties in Bihar.

Nitish's next stop will be Lucknow where he will meet Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday.

Mamata, who is one of the strongest voices against the BJP which rules the Centre, has recently met a number of regional leaders including Akhilesh.

Quite contrary to Nitish's view of Opposition unity, Mamata and Akhilesh expressed more interest in forming a camp of regional parties, who are undoubtedly taking on the BJP in their respective states powerfully.

Nitish's model of Opposition unity includes the beleaguered Congress, which is still the largest but a shrinking opposition force in the country.

The BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will face the second re-election in 2024.