Various anti-BJP parties will hold their first meeting in New Delhi on November 22 under the aegis of the Congress to discuss the proposed joint front for the 2019 general elections, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP and Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot announced today.
Addressing a joint press conference with Gehlot, who had been sent by Congress president Rahul Gandhi to discuss details of the meet, Naidu said, “I have requested Rahulji to lead the initiative as a leader of the principal opposition party and he has obliged”.
Naidu, who has met several opposition leader in the past few days, said he will be meeting West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on November 19. “I am already in touch with her over phone and she will be part of the joint mission”, he said.
The November 22 meeting will focus on the form and structure of the proposed anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forum and a course of action to take forward the initiative further. Besides, a plan of action will be drafted to fight the Narendra Modi government over its alleged anti-people policies such as use of official agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Income Tax department to settle scores with political rivals, dismantling of institutions and the “ill-effects” of the note ban, the leaders said.