West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to reach Delhi on Monday to start a dialogue with opposition parties for a front against the BJP. Though she earlier maintained that it would be a 'non-Congress, non-BJP' front, Banerjee is all set to meet former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and reportedly even sought an appointment to meet her.
Banerjee would first be driven to Parliament on Monday where she plans to meet several opposition leaders from TDP, RJD, DMK, SP and other like-minded parties.
A senior Trinamool Congress leader said that she would not have any objection meeting Rahul Gandhi but for such a meeting, she would not seek any appointment because of 'protocol'.
“Rahul is junior to her in experience and age. So, it is expected that he would come and meet Didi,” said a Trinamool Congress leader.
However, Banerjee would drive to the residence of Sonia, who is senior to her in age and experience, and would meet her for a detailed discussion on a front against Narendra Modi in 2019.
The West Bengal chief minister had also learnt that Sonia is unwell. So, she would also take stock of Sonia's health situation.
Interestingly, amid meetings with opposition leaders, Banerjee might also meet BJP veteran L.K. Advani, with whom she has a special rapport. If Advani is in Parliament, she would like to meet Advani as well, said sources. However, Banerjee had indicated she would not like to meet Advani at his home as that might have vitiated the political atmosphere.
The BJP termed her meeting opposition leaders as trying to fish in troubled waters.
“What would she do? She is chasing a mirage. She thinks the UP byelection is the ultimate result. She would face big defeat in her home,”said Biswapriya Roychowdhury, vice president of BJP.
Meanwhile, Banerjee's government has changed its earlier position of allocating a state-run stadium for a meeting attended by Amit Shah in the second week of April.
Shah is all set to visit the state to commence the preparations for the panchayat elections. While the BJP had written to the state’s sports department to take the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on rent, Banerjee's government had denied the request, saying the facility was meant for sportpersons to practice. However, on Monday, the government cleared the use of the stadium for Shah's programme without citing any reason.
