After talk with Prashant Kishor, Sharad Pawar calls Opposition meet

New Delhi: After scripting a mammoth victory for Trinamool Congress in recently concluded Assembly elections in West Bengal, the poll strategist Prashant Kishor has been tasked to unite all opposition leaders under the banner of Rashtra Manch, which is led by senior TMC leader Yashwant Sinha, who had switched his side from BJP prior to Assembly elections in West Bengal.

The meeting of all opposition leaders has been called by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar soon after Kishor had a chat with the former union minister at his official residence in the national capital. The meeting of all opposition parties is scheduled to be held on Tuesday.

As per party insiders, at the meeting, the leaders of different political parties would discuss the strategies to take on BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh as well as in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"It's also on the platter to discuss the probable names of the leaders who can be the face of united opposition. The prime objective of this meeting is to work on the formula for getting united under one umbrella to take on BJP led by Narendra Modi in the 2024 general elections," the party insiders said.

Invitations have gone to several parties on behalf of Sharad Pawar and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha. "Sharad Pawar ji and Yashwant Sinha ji are co-chairing a discussion on the present national scenario. Yashwant Sinha has requested your kind presence and participation in the meeting," says the invite sent out by Rashtra Manch, which is Sinha's outfit.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Sanjay Singh and Congress leaders Vivek Tankha and Kapil Sibal are some of the invitees. However, Sibal and Jha have reportedly declined the invite. Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK will be represented by Tiruchi Shiva.

Notably, Kishor and Pawar met for the second time in two weeks amid speculation about a plan for "Mission 2024" to fight the BJP-led NDA in the next national election. They had last met on June 11 at Sharad Pawar's Mumbai home for three hours.

However, Kishor ruled out any association with an opposition front to take on the BJP in the next general election.

"I don't believe in a third or fourth front... don't believe Third or Fourth Front can successfully challenge BJP," he told a media house without elaborating on the reasons.

As per party insiders, apart from talks on a joint opposition candidate to challenge PM Modi, at the proposed meeting, it would also be discussed about an alternative to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, where there is sharp discontent against the BJP's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"Some sections of the BJP are silently supporting Pawar, who has understood that there is a huge decline in the popularity of PM Modi and that there is a need to take on the BJP," they said.

Sena leader Sanjay Raut had talked about the need for an alliance of opposition parties at the national level.

Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi too has convened a meeting of the party's general secretaries and state in-charges on June 24 to chalk out a strategy to plan protests against the government on issues such as the hike in petrol and diesel prices.

In the meeting, which will be held virtually, party leaders will also discuss the current Covid and political situations. They will give their suggestions for taking on the government and reaching out to the people to highlight its failures, sources said.

Besides the hike in fuel prices, Congress will also plan protests against the government over high inflation, the pace of Covid vaccination and handling of the pandemic, they said.

The economic situation of the country is also likely to figure during the discussions.