Mamata to host KCR in city, galvanise third front talks

Kolkata: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna on Monday to discuss issues related to the formation of third front and ensure a "qualitative change in the country's politics", with an eye on the 2019 general elections.

It may be recalled that Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief, had extended all her support to Telangana Rasthra Samiti (TRS) president Rao's idea of a "third front" ahead of the 2019 general elections and had a telephonic conversation with him on March 4 in this connection. Banerjee said: "Ham aap se ek mat hai. Aap ke saath rahenge (I am in agreement with you. I will be with you)."

According to sources at the state secretariat, Rao is scheduled to visit Bengal on Monday and will hold a meeting with Banerjee in the evening. According to political analysts, the eyes of the entire nation will be on the outcome of the meeting between Banerjee, who had ousted 34-year-long Left Front rule in Bengal and Rao, who turned the four-decade old dream of Telangana into a reality as they will play a vital role in formation of the third front. The meeting will be crucial ahead of the meeting of anti-BJP political parties in Delhi on March 27 and 28 where Banerjee is scheduled to visit.