Party sources also said that Sonia Gandhi is keen on having the presence of all the top opposition leaders at the dinner event. However, Mamata Banerjee is yet to confirm her arrival.
With 2019 Loksabha Election just a year away Indian National Congress is batting for consolidated opposition to take on BJP. Taking steps in the direction to build a united opposition front, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi has planned a dinner on March 13. All the top opposition leaders are invited to the dinner. The development is being seen as Congress’ effort unite opposition forces under one umbrella alliance like UPA.
The move is also seen as a crucial development as Congress and CPI(M) both lost their north-east bastions to BJP or BJP alliance. CPI(M) last month had passed a political bill in which the party said that BJP and Congress are no different and ruled out any possibility of an alliance with BJP. In Karnataka too, JD(S) chief H. D. Deve Gowda revealed his plan to build a state-level third front, keeping Congress out.
Recently, Telangana Chief Minister and TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao had proposed to build a nation-wide Anti-BJP third front excluding Congress. His move also received a nod from TMC chief and West Bengal President Mamata Banerjee and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Mamata has even spoken to DMK working President M K Stalin about an alliance inside and outside the parliament.
Party sources also said that Sonia Gandhi is keen on having the presence of all the top opposition leaders at the dinner event. However, Mamata Banerjee is yet to confirm her arrival.
It is also being speculated that the NDA ally TDP might also join the dinner event of Sonia Gandhi. TDP has currently locked horns with BJP over the Special Status to Andhra Pradesh. There is also a growing discontent among TDP MPs over Centre’s non-fulfilment of promises made to them.
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