Mamata meets Pawar, oppn leaders; explores federal front option, says time for BJP to "pack up and go"

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of some regional parties as well as NDA ally Shiv Sena to explore a "federal front" option to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls, mooting a "one-to-one" fight in all the states.

According to a senior NCP leader, who did not want to be identified, Banerjee at the same time favoured a front without involving the Congress.

The Trinamool Congress(TMC) supremo sought to rally the regional parties against the NDA even as Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who mooted a non-Congress, non-BJP coalition in national politics, said the alternative being proposed by him would be a "people's front of India".

Coming down heavily on the NDA-led Centre, Banerjee said issues like demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grassroot level and that it was time for the BJP to "pack up and go".

She asserted that all opposition parties should work together to oust the BJP.

Banerjee, who is in Delhi for three days, had an hour-long meeting with Pawar and other NCP leaders at his office in Parliament.

Pawar had earlier in the day denied that a meeting over dinner with opposition parties was scheduled tonight.

"There is no meeting, there is no dinner," Pawar had said in response to a question whether there will be a dinner meeting with the West Bengal chief minister.

Banerjee, who also met leaders from other opposition parties like the TDP, which recently walked out of the BJP-led NDA over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh, TRS, SP, RJD, BJD, NC and JMM, once again emphasised that the need of the hour is have a state-wise strategy to defeat the BJP.

She met Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut along with other Sena members of Parliament triggering speculation in political circles. The Sena, though a part of the ruling NDA, has been critical of Maharashtra and central governments.

"All opposition parties should work together. It should be a one-to-one fight against the BJP. All opposition parties should help the strongest one in the state against the BJP," Banerjee told reporters.

On the issue of opposition unity, Banerjee hailed the alliance between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh and said that all opposition parties should come together to help the alliance.

"If Akhilesh and Mayawati call a meeting in Lucknow, we will all go. We should help the parties where they are strong," she said.

Raut denied that Shiv Sena was joining any front, but said that the Shiv Sena and Banerjee have "a very warm" relationship and there were certain things which Banerjee wanted to convey to Uddhav Thackeray.

Banerjee later said that she "respects" Shiv Sena.

"At least it does not do politics with a gun in their hand. There is no party more communal than the BJP," Banerjee said.

The chief minister will also meet rebel BJP leaders Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie tomorrow.

Though Banerjee is said to be favouring a Front without the Congress, she did say she was in touch with its president Rahul Gandhi. TMC leaders said she is planning to meet Sonia Gandhi.

Replying to a query, Banerjee said she has been exchanging messages with Rahul Gandhi