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

NEW DELHI: The meeting of all opposition parties slated for November 22, will not just chalk out a joint strategy against the ruling BJP in the run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, but has also been timed to send out a message of opposition-unity to the electorate in poll-bound states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telengana and Mizoram.
While it is essentially a direct BJP versus Congress battle in most of the states that go to polls in November and December, the united opposition meeting is expected to be a show of strength to impact the voters in these states. Apart from the Congress, TMC, TDP, NC, DMK, JD(S), CPI, CPM, AAP, SP, RJD, RLD are some of the parties that have already agreed to come on a common platform to “Save democracy, Save Nation,” pushed by political compulsions to fight the BJP, which they see as a “common enemy.”

After West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee initiated a move almost a year ago to get all the opposition parties together, it has been the recent efforts of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, which has taken the exercise forward. Both the leaders are acting as “facilitators” for opposition unity for the 2019 polls.

At least four public rallies, after Thursday’s joint conclave, have already been planned between December and January for show of strength and opposition unity.

Mid-December, the party leaders are expected to be in Chennai for the unveiling of departed DMK leader K Karunanidhi’s statue. Shortly after around December-end a joint rally in Amravati has been planned when the TDP’s ongoing district-wise public meetings against BJP, to “fight for justice” (for denying special status for Andhra) will end in the state’s capital.

In the first week of January, 2019, the leaders are likely to attend a farmer’s rally in Bengaluru organised by Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and on January 19, Mamata Banerjee will be hosting a rally in Kolkata. The Bengal CM is expected to invite Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for the rally while she is here next week.

While most of the top leaders of opposition parties are expected to attend Thursday’s joint meeting here, BSP chief Mayawati, who had met TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu here is unlikely to be present as she is contesting against Congress in Chhattisgarh, MP and Rajasthan.
It remains to be seen if she deputes party leader Satish Mishra to join the opposition front under the “Save Democracy, Save Nation” banner. The leaders are also expected to discuss joint strategy for the Winter Session of Parliament which begins on December 11, the day of the assembly poll results.

The November 22 meeting has been coordinated by different leaders like Naidu, Banerjee, apart from Congress leaders on Rahul Gandhi’s behalf.