Cong, 7 oppn parties meet to formulate joint strategy

Congress and seven other opposition parties today met to formulate a joint strategy to corner the government over various issues including demonetisation that has caused inconvenience to the people ahead of Winter Session of Parliament beginning November 16.

leaders of TMC, RJD, JD-U, CPI, CPI-M, JMM and YSR Congress met the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad in his room in Parliament House and discussed the strategy on how to unitedly take on the government in view of the hardships faced by the common man after the denomination of high-valued notes.

The meeting saw archrivals TMC and CPI(M) coming together on a common platform against the government.

Among those who were present included Sharad Yadav (JD-U), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), Sudip Bandopadhyay and Derek O'Brien of TMC, CPI's D Raja, Prem Chand Gupta (RJD), Sushil Kumar (JMM) and M Rajamohan Reddy of YSR Congress.

Besides Azad, Congress leader in lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and the party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma were present.

Opposition SP, BSP and AAP that have strongly criticised the government on the demonetisation issue gave the meeting a miss, besides DMK, AIADMK and NCP.

A senior Congress leader said some of the opposition leaderw could not attend the meet as they were not in town, but maintained that they were part of a united opposition.