"There will be secular parties along with the Left and the Congress in West Bengal which will fight against the BJP and TMC," he had said.
Bihar politician Lalu Yadav, who is close to both Sonia Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee, reportedly interjected in the conversation and came out in the Trinamool leader's support.
AdvertisementLalu Yadav reportedly called out what he called the incessant criticism of Mamata Banerjee by Left and Congress leaders in Bengal. The RJD leader referred to remarks by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a fierce critic of Mamata Banerjee, and said such comments had to be avoided at all costs for the sake of opposition unity.
The discussions between Sonia Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee continued when they sat together, waiting for other leaders to join them at the table.
The two leaders are known to share a good rapport but ties between their parties have soured because of their rivalry in Bengal. But both leaders said defeating the BJP next year is priority to save democracy and federalism.
At the meeting, Lalu Yadav reportedly said the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) should stop attacking each other.
There were hugs and smiles as Congress leaders welcomed AAP leaders at the meeting. As AAP's Raghav Chadha walked up to the Congress leaders, the party's KC Venugopal offered a smile and a hug, betraying none of the awkwardness expected after AAP forced the Congress to declare its support in the fight against the Centre's ordinance on the control of services in Delhi.
When the meeting began, suggestions were invited for a name for the opposition front. The word "India" should be part of the name, suggested many leaders.
The Left parties called for a common minimum programme and also said state-specific subjects should be kept separate.
The discussions reportedly continued well after Sonia Gandhi, Lalu Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin and Nitish Kumar left.
The proposed tagline, "United we stand", was on big banners at the meeting.
