The attempts to form an anti-BJP grand alliance set a rock on Monday when the grand meeting of all the Major opposition parties set to scheduled to take place on November 22 postponed citing undisclosed reasons.
TDB chief, Chandrababu Naidu likey to meet TMC Supremo Mamta Banerjee on Monday in Kolkata, and the new date for the meeting will be the prime agenda during this meet. Efforts to cement such an alliance are being led by Chandrababu Naidu who has held meetings with top opposition leaders, Mamata Banerjee, and other regional parties and along with the Indian National Congress ahead of Mega Lok Sabha Battle of 2019.
Naidu, who broke up with BJP led NDA early this year announced an Anti-BJP conclave in the national capital, met Ashok Gehlot in Amaravati.
But it hasn’t been a smooth sailing for the anti-BJP front, With both UP Key players -Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati – criticizing the Congress in the past week.
Former UP CM and Samajwadi Chief, Akhilesh Yadav had accused the Congress of attempting to scuttle his party’s chances in Chhattisgarh, while Mayawati described both the BJP and Congress as “snakes”, adding that she would rather remain in opposition than ally with anyone.
Mamata Banerjee had raised concern over the timing of the meeting. “The issue is that if all opposition leaders aren’t present at the meeting, then it doesn’t show a united front and doesn’t show solidarity,” she said. An Argument which was later supported by NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
According to the sources, both Banerjee and Pawar had a word on Saturday and discuss the role-playing by Congress in the current situation. ‘It appeared that the Congress was trying to hijack the current situation and wants to grab the control of everything’ said a source.
Concerns were also raised over the role of Congress General Secretary, Ashok Gehlot to whom Naidu met in Amaravati to coordinate such meeting.