Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata Banerjee Discuss 'Mahagathbandhan' to 'Save Democracy'
After the meeting, both Naidu and Banerjee said opposition parties will come together to take on the BJP.
Kolkata, November 19: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday met his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee and discussed the formation of a grand alliance (Mahagathbandhan) of opposition parties against the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabah elections. After the meeting, both Naidu and Banerjee said opposition parties will come together to take on the BJP.
"We had a good discussion. Democracy is in danger, all institutions are under a threat. We want to meet before the parliament session. All those who are opposing BJP will come together and chalk out the future course of action," Naidu, who is trying to bring all opposition parties under one roof, said. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president reiterated that a grand alliance against the BJP is a democratic compulsion. Chandrababu Naidu Meets Rahul Gandhi To 'Save Democracy', Grand Alliance Talks Gains Momentum.
Naidu also said there is “intolerance” towards minorities in the country and autonomy of independent institutions like the CAG and RBI are threatened. He has met several leaders of different opposition parties including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and DMK president M K Stalin.
After a meeting with Naidu, Mamata Banerjee said: "We are totally together. We will walk against the BJP government to save democracy. We'll meet before the parliament session and chalk out future plan." When asked who will be the face of the grand alliance in 2019, the Trinamool Congress chief said “everyone will be the face of the Mahaghathbandhan”, adding that all opposition parties are “together” in the fight against the BJP.
Naidu has been trying to mobilise all opposition parties to form a front after TDP pulled out of BJP-led NDA in March this year. On Friday, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal state governments had withdrawn the consent to the CBI, accusing the Modi government of misusing the agency against the opposition parties.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 19, 2018 06:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).