Naidu reaches out to Mamata for opposition unity

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday met his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee and sought her support for the opposition unity ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The meeting took place at the Secretariat here.

Banerjee and Naidu gave a clarion call to oust BJP from power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019. The two leaders also discussed fresh dates for the meeting of all opposition parties. Earlier the meeting was slated for November 22 but was cancelled due to Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram.

Talking to media persons, Naidu said that the meeting would take place before the Winter Session of Parliament, which will commence from December 11. The Winter Session will conclude on January 8, 2019.

Naidu said that under the current regime all institutions are facing a serious threat. "Be it CBI, ED, RBI or CAG, in this government every institution is under immense pressure. We have to come forward to protect democracy and institutions," said Naidu.

He said that demonetization was a big farce and growth in the country had reached stagnation. He also took on the Central government for the increase in fuel prices and unemployment. Naidu bemoaned, "There is an all-prevailing atmosphere of intolerance towards minorities."

Naidu said that he was in touch with BSP chief Mayawati and all those who stand in opposition to the BJP.

West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee, on her part, too reiterated that opposition should collectively strive to throw the BJP out of power in 2019. She gave her consent for the all- opposition party meeting before the start of the Winter Session of Parliament. She brushed aside the question about the leader of the opposition unity, saying that all leaders are the face of opposition.

For the last couple of months, Naidu has been vigorously reaching out to all big faces of opposition including the regional titans to bring them on a common platform so as to take on the NDA in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Naidu has already met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other regional leaders like Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah for strengthening the opposition unity. He recently met CPM leader Sitaram Yechury too.