Discussions between leaders of various opposition parties to decide on a joint candidate against the NDA candidate for the upcoming presidential election intensified on Tuesday, even as NCP chief Sharad Pawar made it clear that he Not interested in contesting elections.
Trinamool Congress chief and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata BanerjeeArriving in the national capital ahead of a joint conference of opposition leaders called by her on Wednesday, she met Pawar at his residence. NCP Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel was also present in the meeting.
Trinamool Congress sources said that Congress, Samajwadi PartyRJD, CPI(M), CPI, NCP, Shiv Sena And the DMK has so far confirmed that their leaders will attend Wednesday’s meeting. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is yet to make up its mind.
A section of the AAP leadership is of the view that the party should stand with the broader opposition to vehemently oppose it. BJPWhile another section feels that by doing so, the party will weaken its character.
,Arvind Kejriwal And Mamata Banerjee shared a good rapport in the past, but now both are eyeing a national role behind their electoral successes. But there is no animosity either, so the party is in a dilemma,” said an AAP leader.
Though details of the Pawar-Banerjee meeting were not revealed, Left leaders said Pawar told them that he was not willing to contest as a joint opposition candidate. “MS. Mamata Banerjee met me today at my residence in Delhi. We had a detailed discussion on various issues related to our country,” Pawar tweeted.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his CPI counterpart D Raja also met Pawar. The NCP veteran told him that he would attend Wednesday’s meeting called by Banerjee at the Constitution Club as unity of secular democratic parties and forces is important in view of the current political situation in the country.
“He told us that he is not interested in contesting the elections. He will openly say the same thing in tomorrow’s meeting. We have to explore the possibilities of other candidates,” said Raja Indian Express,
Left parties and Congress will participate in the meeting.
DMK has sent its Lok Sabha leader TR Baalu to attend the meeting. Left leaders are expected to meet Balu later in the day.
Congress sources said Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh Randeep Surjewala are likely to attend the meeting on behalf of the party. Both the Congress and the Left are not impressed by Banerjee’s “unilateral” initiative to call the meeting, but sources in these parties told The Indian Express on Monday that they would attend the meeting to show no signs of division. Opposition group.