Non-BJP opposition parties unlikely to meet on May 21

The non-BJP opposition parties are unlikely to meet on May 21 as Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee has requested TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu to fix a date after the declaration of results on May 23 for it, at the convenience of other parties.

"Our leader is yet to take a call on this. It depends on the outcome of the elections. The meeting, though, is bound to happen after the 23rd," a member of the TDP politburo said here Monday.

During their meeting on Thursday last, the AP Chief Minister reportedly suggested to his West Bengal counterpart that a meeting of the non-BJP opposition parties be convened on May 21 to discuss the post-poll strategy.

She, however, expressed reservations over this, citing the impending counting of votes on May 23.

TDP sources here aver that Mamata Banerjee expressed apprehensions over the safety of the EVMs stored in strong rooms across the country and, as such, there was a need for all opposition parties to keep a constant vigil to thwart the BJP's "nefarious plans."