TRS to stay away from opposition meeting
Hyderabad, June 15 (IANS) Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has decided not to attend the meeting called by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday to discuss the opposition’s strategy for the Presidential election in New Delhi.
Telangana Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao took the decision after consultations with senior party leaders.
The TRS is unhappy with Mamata Banerjee inviting Congress party for the meeting. The TRS cited its stand to maintain equidistance from both the BJP and the Congress. The TRS leadership made it clear that it can’t be a part of any exercise which has the participation of the Congress.
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has invited all the opposition parties for the meeting to be held at Constitution Club at 3 p.m. She also extended the invitation to eight chief ministers of opposition-ruled states for the meeting.
It initially thought that TRS chief KCR may stay away from the meeting but he may send some other TRS leader. However, after hours of consultation with party leaders he decided not to send any TRS leader.
The TRS sources claimed that KCR already conveyed to Matama Banerjee his objections to the invitation extended to the Congress party.
KCR-led party made it clear that since Congress is its main rival in the state, it can’t share a platform with it. The party leader was also unhappy over the way Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the state last month made baseless allegations against TRS government without speaking anything against the BJP.
There is also a feeling among the TRS leadership that the Congress party can’t be trusted. They believe that Congress party colluded with the BJP in all elections from 2019 Lok Sabha polls to Assembly by-election in Huzurabad late last year. It alleged that the Congress worked for the victory of BJP by sacrificing its own chances.
The TRS leaders also questioned the purpose of calling a meeting when a candidate was already selected. They are of the view that the opposition parties should have first discussed a leader acceptable to all parties in advance and then convince such a leader later.
They were referring to Mamata Banerjee’s request to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar to be the opposition candidate. The NCP chief has declined the offer saying he wants to remain in active politics.
AAP to skip Mamata-led Oppn meet
New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will not join the meeting of the opposition parties called by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss the upcoming Presidential polls.
Banerjee had written to 22 opposition leaders and chief ministers last week to attend the meeting to formulate a joint strategy for the Presidential polls on June 15. The opposition leaders are set to join the meeting on Wednesday.
However, the AAP will not attend the opposition meeting. According to a source, the party can consider this only after the candidate for the upcoming Presidential election is declared.
“Aam Aadmi Party will not attend the Opposition parties’ meet called by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Delhi, today. The party will consider the issue only after the candidate for the upcoming Presidential election is declared,” a source said.
Banerjee landed in Delhi on Tuesday and met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar at his residence. As per a source, she asked Pawar to be the opposition nominee for the presidential polls which he refused saying he wants to remain in active politics.
However, Sharad Pawar will attend the opposition meetina. Several other opposition parties are also likely to attend the meeting to discuss the joint strategy for the upcoming Presidential poll.
Rajnath reaches out to Cong as cracks appear in oppn camp
New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has spoken with Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge on the issue of Presidential polls amid reports of cracks appearing in the opposition ranks.
Sources said Rajnath called up Kharge over the phone on Tuesday.
After the talks, the Congress, however, said that it was a formality and no breakthrough has been achieved.
Kharge said, “Rajnath Singh called me and spoke about the Presidential polls. But when asked about the proposal, there was no response. I am saying if the opposition comes up with a non controversial name… will the government accept that? It’s a formality.”
Mamata Banerjee has called a meeting of the opposition parties, but cracks have emerged as the AAP and TRS are likely to skip the meeting.
The AAP will decide on the issue after the name of the candidate surfaces while the TRS is skipping the meet citing the Congress’ presence.
The Congress will join the meeting convened by Trinamool Congress Chief and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, who had written to 22 opposition leaders and chief ministers last week to attend the meeting to formulate a joint strategy for the Presidential polls on June 15. The opposition leaders are set to join the meeting.
Banerjee landed in Delhi on Tuesday and met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar at his residence. As per a source, Pawar has refused to be the opposition nominee for the presidential polls saying he wants to remain in active politics.
However, the NCP will attend the opposition meeting. Several other opposition parties are also likely to attend the meeting to discuss the joint strategy for the upcoming Presidential poll.