"AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu has taken the lead and has met several leaders to consolidate all secular parties to remove NDA govt in 2019. He met us today to work out further strategy," JD(S) leader & former PM Deve Gowda said.
"NDA rule under the leadership of PM Modi has created many problems and has destabalised constitutionally-created institutions. Now, it is the responsibility of all secular parties including the Congress to come together to replace NDA govt," he said.
Chandrababu Naidu has met several opposition leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi to try and form a grand opposition alliance against the NDA.
Setting the stage for the revival of an united front against the BJP, Chandrababu Naidu claimed the mood of the nation was against the BJP-led NDA and soon an alliance would be formed with various regional parties.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy, Naidu said the initial steps for the formation of the alliance were yet to be finalised.
Once the modalities were fixed, programmes would be chalked out later, he said.
"I have spoken to Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav. I have met everybody. Tomorrow I am meeting Stalin (DMK president). We will decide how to take forward the alliance with consensus. It is an initial exercise. After that we will work together," he said.
Naidu, who had been a staunch critic of Congress, was not averse to taking it along for the "grand alliance."
However, he ducked questions on their prime ministerial candidate.
"Congress is a major opposition party," he said, pointing out that Deve Gowda became Prime Minister with support of the Congress from outside in 1996.
"... Congress is a main anchor," Naidu added.
(With inputs from agencies)
from Times of India https://ift.tt/2PjyzUc
