NEW DELHI: Amid TMC’s push to sideline Congress as the leader of the anti-BJP bloc, key opposition parties represented by their top faces held a brainstorming session at the residence of
Sonia Gandhi, a sudden development that appears to be a message to the challenger.
NCP partriarch Sharad Pawar, CPM chief Sitaram Yechury, DMK veteran TR Baalu, Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah besides Rahul Gandhi and Congress senior Mallikarjun Kharge held detailed discussions on issues ranging from suspension of MPs from Rajya Sabha to efforts required to boost the opposition unity.
Sources said Rahul Gandhi appreciated the get-together and suggested that it should happen more often.
The meeting discussed in detail ways to bring about state-wise unity among the parties to take on BJP.
What stood out in the meeting, according to sources, were the comments of Pawar and Yechury, in the light of the push by Mamata to emerge as the fulcrum of the anti-BJP axis.
It is learnt that Pawar clarified the remarks attributed to him after Mamata met him in Mumbai and declared “there is no UPA now” on December 1. The NCP leader’s comments on the need to invite all the parties to join in, were seen as endorsement of the ‘Mamata line’.
As the TMC issue was discussed, many see it as a message to the Bengal leader. “We did not mean it that way,” a senior leader said. Sources said the opposition will now wait for the TMC chief’s reaction, and it was felt that a conversation with her is required. TMC was not invited for the meeting. The gathering would have packed more power, but for the inability of
Uddhav Thackeray to join in as he is indisposed.