The meeting of opposition leaders at the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in New Delhi is a clear indication that the former Union minister for agriculture has decided to take the initiative to set in motion the process of uniting the opposition in order to take on the BJP in 2019 general election.
Pawar had led the Samvidhan Bachao (save the Constitution) rally in Mumbai on January 26. Although the rally was the brainchild of independent MP and farmer leader Raju Shetty, NCP threw all its might behind the effort and its leaders networked hard to make sure that senior national leaders of opposition like D. Raja and Sitaram Yechury participated in the rally. NCP leader and legislator Jitendra Avhad was the joint coordinator of the rally along with Shetty. It is reliably learnt that Pawar personally had telephonic conversations with senior national opposition leaders from Delhi to make sure that they participate in the rally.
The NCP is keen to form an alliance with the Congress. Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare recently said all secular forces should join hands to defeat the BJP. In fact, when the Congress unit in Gondia-Bhandara joined hands with the BJP at local level, NCP made an earnest attempt to appease the Congress. "We had told Congress leaders that you give us any post and we will accept it but please do not ally with the BJP," said Tatkare. "If we have to fight next elections together, Congress will have to talk to us because we strongly feel that unity of secular forces that is taking shape should remain intact," he added.
In a recent interview to Mumbai Mirror, Pawar too said his party's stand was very clear and they want to work with the Congress. He also dismissed all talks of secret understanding between the NCP and the BJP as media's creation. Besides, the NCP recently completed the second leg of its 'Hallabol yatra' against Devendra Fadnavis-led government in Maharashtra. The party called the 'yatra' a success as almost all senior NCP leaders traveled through Marathwada region and interacted with people and farmers in every district of the region.
Within the party, Supriya Sule has emerged as the point of rallying together those who are opposed to any understanding with the BJP. With Tatkare and Ajit Pawar likely to face the heat of irrigation scam probe, Sule has taken lead in voicing a strong opposition to the BJP. Recently when farmer Dharma Patil, who consumed poison in Matralaya, died at JJ Hospital, Sule lashed out at the state government and said Fadnavis should feel ashamed to call himself a chief minister as farmers are committing suicides in Mantralaya. All these are clear signals that NCP is moving away from the shadow of BJP and is gearing itself for elections in 2019. It has made up its mind to remain part of the UPA.
Pawar is likely to hold another meeting of opposition leaders on Thursday at his residence after the Budget is presented. The meeting is likely to be attended by leaders from Congress, CPI(M), CPI, DMK, National Conference and Trinamool Congress. The meeting is being organised to coordinate opposition's strategy once the Budget is presented and the issue of Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha may also come up for discussion.
