Sharad Pawar echoes Mamata Banerjee, Sanjay Raut meets Rahul Gandhi for plan to take on BJP

NEW DELHI: Amid rumblings in the opposition camp, Nationalist Congress party of Sharad Pawar Tuesday said that there are more like-minded parties outside UPA who should be brought together for a joint opposition against BJP, echoing the line propounded by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
At the same time, Shiv sena said that congress and Rahul Gandhi should take the lead in opposition unity.
After the meeting of NCP national executive, Maharashtra minister and party spokesman Nawab Malik addressed the issue of opposition unity. He said Pawar has for last one year been saying that there are more anti-BJP parties outside Upa then there are with Upa. Pawar believes that without bringing those parties into the fold of anti--bjp camp, contesting a big election may not be feasible.
Lashing out at the BJP government for trying to scare people on religious grounds and misusing agencies to harass the political rivals, and for the unrest over price rise, malik said, “all the anti-bjp parties should be brought together to bring about a wider alternative front. People want a change.”
However, NCP steered away from the issue of leadership that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has made her focus, and remained accommodative of the Congress.
On Tuesday, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also met Rahul Gandhi at his residence for discussions. Speaking to reporters, he said attempts to bring about a cohesive opposition unity to take on the BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha elections is underway.
“I told Rahul Gandhi that he should take the lead. He should play an active role. There cannot be a unity without the Congress. Many regional parties are with Congress,“ he said.
Ncp and Shiv sena are in alliance with Congress in Maharashtra where a tripartite government holds power.
Malik also made it clear that NCP will have no alliance with Trinamool Congress in Goa, and is in talks with congress for seat-sharing and alliance in poll bound Goa and Uttarakhand.