Meeting of opposition parties to send out message of unity to poll-bound states

NEW DELHI: The meeting of opposition parties to be held in the capital on November 22 is not only to chalk out a countrywide joint strategy to fight the BJP-led NDA in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, but has also been timed to send out a message of opposition unity to poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.
Though essentially it is a direct BJP versus Congress battle in the key states going to polls, the opposition parties seek to convey an image of unity to the voters of these states, with next year’s big battle in mind.Congress, TMC, TDP, NC, DMK, JD(S), CPI, CPM, AAP, SP, RJD and RLD have already agreed to come on a common “Save democracy, Save Nation” platform to fight BJP, the “common enemy”.
After West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee initiated the move almost a year ago to for a common bloc, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has taken it forward, both acting as “facilitators”.
Thursday’s meeting may be followed by at least four public rallies in December-January.
Key opposition leaders will find an occasion to be closeted together in mid-December when they converge in Chennai for the unveiling of departed DMK leader K Karunanidhi’s statue. A joint rally has been planned in Amravati in December-end, coinciding with the culmination of TDP’s ‘Fight for Justice’, the ongoing district-wise agitation against BJP for denying special status to Andhra. In the first week of January, the leaders are likely to attend a farmers’ rally in Bengaluru organised by Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and on January 19, Mamata Banerjee is to host a rally in Kolkata. The Bengal CM is expected to invite Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for the rally when she visits the capital next week.
While leaders of most opposition parties are expected to attend Thursday’s meeting, BSP chief Mayawati is unlikely to attend. Mayawati, who met TDP chief Naidu here earlier, is going it alone in Chhattisgarh, MP and Rajasthan. It is still not clear whether he would send Satish Mishra to represent her party at the meeting which will also discuss opposition strategy for the winter Session of Parliament beginning on December 11.