This Article is From Mar 12, 2018

Sharad Pawar To Host Opposition Meet By End Of March: NCP

NCP leader Praful Patel has already met Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and invited her to attend the meet.

Sharad Pawar To Host Opposition Meet By End Of March: NCP

The meeting called by Sharad Pawar is likely to be held on either March 27 or 28. (File photo)

New Delhi: The show of opposition unity would not stop at Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's dinner tomorrow, but would continue at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence at the end of this month, senior NCP leaders have said.

According to top NCP sources, Sharad Pawar has called a meet of all opposition leaders, including the Congress, to discuss a strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

NCP leader Praful Patel has already met Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and invited her to attend the meet.

After the meeting with Ms Banerjee last week, Mr Patel had told reporters that the idea of having a federal front in the future was discussed between them.

According to TMC sources, Ms Banerjee, who would not be able to attend Ms Gandhi's dinner due to prior commitments, has confirmed her attendance at Mr Pawar's meeting.

Even though Ms Banerjee had been advocating a non-BJP non-Congress front, Mr Pawar has invited the Congress as well, NCP sources said.

Mamata Banerjee had recently spoken to several key regional party leaders to renew the focus on efforts at forming a non-BJP platform.

"The NCP and Pawar feel that without the Congress, there cannot be any opposition front against the BJP. So even the Congress has been invited for the meet," a top NCP leader told reporters.

The meeting is likely to be held on either March 27 or 28.

Though attendance of various other opposition party heads are yet to be confirmed, it is known that the NCP president is likely to invite TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao for the meet.
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