Sonia may join Oppn meet on Dec 10, Maya not confirmed

Interestingly, the meeting is unlikely to have a fixed agenda or a sharp focus on the 2019 elections, political leaders said on Monday. Naidu has not clarified on the agenda of the meeting, they add, and when he called up leaders such as Yechury and Banerjee, he maintained that the meeting would simply provide a platform to explore ideas.

The deliberate omission of an agenda is to ensure a free-flowing discussion on a range of issues and accommodate different points of view on a range of subjects, two leaders said.

“It must be to discuss broad common issues to be taken forward,” said one of them, a senior Trinamool leader who asked not to be identified.

The other, a Left leader, confirmed that there is no pre-fixed agenda and that the meeting would also likely discuss issues to be raised in Parliament in the coming winter session.

Another Opposition leader said that the parties and leaders would watch what happens on December 11 when results to five state elections are declared, and subsequently, get down to talking about a strategy for 2019.

The Congress leaders said they are in touch with the BSP and are still trying to convince Mayawati to attend the meeting.

The last such meeting was held last year when the Opposition parties came together to decide their candidates for the presidential and vice-presidential elections.