Non-BJP leaders to meet amid push for alliance

Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi among prominent names to attend

In a big step forward for efforts to form a strong antiBJP front, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called a meeting of leaders of non-BJP parties on November 22.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi is likely to attend the meeting.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of a series of meetings between Naidu and various top opposition leaders, including Janata Dal Secular President H.D. Deve Gowda and Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru and M.K. Stalin, head of the DMK in Chennai.

Naidu discussed the idea with the leaders of many other parties, including Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party and Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference. Naidu told journalists he was also in touch with Trinamool Congress party President and West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee.

Mayawati?

Also invited to the meetin are Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, along with Left leaders Sitaram Yechuri and S. Sudhakar Redd.

However, the biggest coup would be getting Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati to attend, sources said.