◗ Shah reviews situation, rushes more CRPF personnel to the conflict zone
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar is likely to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of forming an opposition front for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Trinamul Congress chief has called for a unity of opposition parties to take on the BJP.
Mr Pawar said, “She had called me last week and expressed her desire to meet me during her visit to New Delhi. I think we are likely to meet today in New Delhi.”
After a landslide victory in West Bengal Assembly elections a couple of months back, Ms Banerjee has now set her eyes to play a bigger role in national politics. She has appealed to all opposition leaders to unite against the BJP for the forthcoming general elections.
As a part of her plans, Ms Banerjee has been on a five-day tour to Delhi since July 25. It is her
first visit to Delhi after becoming the West Bengal CM for the third time. During the visit, she will hold parleys with opposition party leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
According to NCP sources, Mr Pawar is again expected to take a lead to form an alliance of regional parties against the BJP at the national level. He still believes that regional parties could give a tough fight to BJP in 2024, said a party insider.
He pointed out that Mr Pawar, while congratulating Ms Banerjee after her thumping win in West Bengal, had also hinted on the need for a united opposition front against the BJP at the national level.