In the midst of CBI raids on two former UPA Ministers, lalu Prasad and P Chidambaram, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi to consolidate Opposition unity and put up a consensus candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi too was present in the 40-minute Sonia-Mamata meeting which has irked the West Bengal Congress leadership.
The common Presidential candidate is being seen as the Opposition’s bid to form a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties to take on the BJP in 2019 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a second term.
Banerjee said she would not disclose the discussions that took place but stressed that an ideological fight should be fought politically. She also criticised the Government for unleashing what she called a vendetta against its political rivals. The Trinamool Congress chief claimed that names of Presidential candidates were not discussed but the need for consensus was reiterated.
“There is still time and we will meet again. But the Government should also take the initiative for a consensus candidate. In a democracy, it is not right to jail or book opponents by lodging false cases and using investigative agencies such as the CBI against them. We want the entire opposition to get together and come out with a consensus candidate who will be good for the country,” Mamata said emerging from the meeting with Sonia.
The meeting between the two was part of a series of meetings that the Congress president has been holding with other political leaders for a possible joint candidate for the presidential poll. Mamata said if the Opposition wanted, it could set aside differences for this purpose.
“There are so many political equations. We will talk together, we will discuss together. We will prefer a consensus candidate who will work for the country and will be a better candidate for the country,” she said.
Sonia has already taken the lead to scout for a candidate whom all the opposition parties could back. She and Rahul have also spoken to most opposition leaders. From hospital too Sonia had called up Mamata asking her to expedite the process. The Congress chief has also met JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury.
Mamta also accepted RJD supremo lalu Prasad’s invitation to attend a rally of political parties opposed to the BJP-led central government on August 27. The acceptance came on a day when IT raids were carried out at various locations in Delhi and adjoining areas in search of the alleged benami properties linked to lalu Prasad and others.