In his bid to garner opposition support against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and build a strong alliance, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday met his West Bengal counterpart, Mamata Banerjee.

‘Save democracy’

Claiming that “democracy was in danger”, the TDP supremo said all parties which oppose the BJP should come together to “protect the nation” and “save democracy”.

“There is growing intolerance against minorities. Issues like unemployment and farm distress remain unaddressed.

Autonomy of independent institutions such as the CAG and RBI are being threatened. All anti-BJP parties should come together to save democracy,” he said during a press conference at the West Bengal state secretariat.

Naidu, earlier an ally of the BJP, has met a spectrum of leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP’s Sharad Pawar, National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy, and DMK president MK Stalin as part of his efforts to forge a front against the ruling party.

Opposition conclave

According to Naidu, the opposition conclave, where all anti-BJP parties were to meet and form strategy, has been postponed due to elections in five States. The conclave was supposed to have been held in Delhi on November 22.

“We wanted to meet on November 22 because of the elections. We wanted to make it before the Parliament (winter) session,” he said.

The winter session of the Parliament will be held between December 15 and January 5. Asked about Mayawati not being a part of the alliance, Naidu refused give a clear answer.

“We are discussing it. As I have said earlier, all anti-BJP parties must come together,” he said.

When asked who will be the face of the grand alliance in 2019, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed since all opposition parties are in this together, “everyone” will be its face.

“Everyone will be the face of the ‘ mahagathbandhan ‘ (grand alliance),” she said.

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