As the Lok Sabha elections enter its last phase, the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, understanding the urgency of a united opposition to take on the BJP surge, has started attempts to bring in more parties as Congress allies. Realising that the Congress party can’t form a government at the centre on its own or with its current allies, the UPA chairperson is looking toward establishing an expanded UPA3. As part of that strategy, Sonia Gandhi will be chairing a meeting of opposition leaders in Delhi on 23rd May, the day results of the Lok Sabha election will be announced.
According to reports, Sonia Gandhi has reached out to almost all Opposition party leaders to check their availability on May 21, 22 and 23 for a strategy meeting in Delhi. Realising that every single seat in parliament will be crucial for her party in their endeavour to unsettle the incumbent government, Sonia Gandhi extended invitations to parties to meet prior to the election results which would be announced on May 23.
Desperation to keep BJP out of power has urged Sonia Gandhi to approach parties like the Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and K Chandrashekar Rao’ Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Despite the two going head to head in Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress of Jaganmohan Reddy and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have also been invited.
The UPA chairperson is believed to be attempting to convince the parties that it was time to keep petty politics aside.
The DMK has confirmed that they have received the invite for chief MK Stalin. Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Deve Gowda has also confirmed that he will also be reaching Delhi on May 23 afternoon for a meeting with Sonia Gandhi.
Telugu Desam president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu had also confirmed to send a representative to the meeting.
According to sources, Sonia’s efforts are aimed at reaching some sort of understanding among opposition parties ahead of the results on May 23, so that they could be in a position to get the first invite from President Ram Nath Kovind to form the government if the mandate turns out to be fractured.
