New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who is trying to stitch an alliance of all non-BJP parties, met Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders in Delhi today. Mr Naidu, who had a bitter history with the Congress, declared that it was a "democratic compulsion" to join hands in order to take on the ruling BJP in the 2019 national election. "We have a past," agreed Rahul Gandhi, fielding questions in a joint press meet with Mr Naidu outside his heavily protected Tughlaq Lane home.
The preliminary discussions between the Congress and Mr Naidu's party have been conducted by state leaders and the two sides are trying to evolve a seat sharing formula. This will be the Congress' second key tie-up in the south. In May, the party had tied up with former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's Janata Dal Secular to keep the BJP out of power in Karnataka.
Mr Naidu walked out of the NDA in March after failing to make any headway with his demand for special status for Andhra Pradesh. He has since taken up the role of a "facilitator" in evolving a united opposition. In that capacity, he has already met Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Dalit powerhouse Mayawati.
Here are the HIGHLIGHTS on Chandrababu Naidu's meeting with Rahul Gandhi:
Nov 01, 2018 18:51 (IST)
Addressing the media, Chandrababu Naidu says, "I have seen so many prime ministers including Indira Gandhi but never have I seen this type of a government."
Nov 01, 2018 16:47 (IST)
"The gist of the meeting was we have to defend demo, institutions of the country. We are coming together. Both agree to not get into past, we're going to talk about present and future. Because of what's happening in the country," says Rahul Gandhi after meeting Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi.
Nov 01, 2018 15:33 (IST)
Recently, the Telugu Desam Party chief was also invited to join the UPA by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily.
Nov 01, 2018 15:08 (IST)
According to news agency PTI, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav spoke to Mr Naidu over the phone yesterday and the latter will visit Delhi every week to speed up the process of uniting opposition parties.
Nov 01, 2018 15:05 (IST)
Mr Naidu is expected to meet Rahul Gandhi at his residence around 3:30 pm and they are likely to hold discussions for an alliance for the December 7 Assembly elections in Telangana.
Nov 01, 2018 14:37 (IST)
Chandrababu Naidu is attempting to stitch an alliance of non-BJP parties for the Lok Sabha elections. This is in fact Mr Naidu's second trip to Delhi in less than a week, to carry forward the same agenda.
Nov 01, 2018 14:19 (IST)
Sharad Pawar, Chandrababu Naidu and Farooq Abdullah are holding press conference.
Nov 01, 2018 13:18 (IST)
The Congress is also reportedly trying to forge an alliance with a smaller regional party in Telangana. The CPI is also keen for an alliance, but the seat sharing issue is proving a hurdle.
Nov 01, 2018 13:17 (IST)
The preliminary discussions between the Congress and Mr Naidu's party have been conducted by state leaders and the two sides are trying to evolve a seat sharing formula. This will be the Congress' second key tie-up in the south. In May, the party had tied up with former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's Janata Dal Secular to keep the BJP out of power in Karnataka.
Nov 01, 2018 13:17 (IST)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is expected to meet Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today. Sources said the two sides will take forward the talks of an alliance with Mr Naidu's Telugu Desam Party for the coming assembly elections in Telangana, which will be held in December.