After meeting Prashant Kishor a second time, Sharad Pawar to host Opposition leaders

Leaders from 15 parties to join meeting today; it might set in motion a UPA-like anti-BJP front, leveraging NCP chief's good rapport with all

A day after poll strategist Prashant Kishor met with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, the second time within 10 days, this time in New Delhi on Monday, senior leaders of 15 opposition parties will meet at the Pawar’s residence in the national capital on Tuesday. The development reaffirms the notion that Pawar was attempting to explore the possibility of getting non-BJP parties together.

Kishor had met Pawar in Mumbai over lunch on June 11. While it was a one-on-one meeting on Monday, the one in Mumbai had been attended by Pawar’s family, party leaders and friends. The strategist had shared his experiences of winning West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The NCP had said after the Mumbai meeting that Kishor wouldn’t work for the party, but did not rule out his collaboration with non-BJP parties for putting a powerful UPA-like front in place.

The latest meeting is being seen as an extension of the thought discussed in Mumbai. Kishor, who joined Nitish Kumar’s party for a while before calling it quits, is said to be interested in taking up a bigger role at the national level. Joining hands with Pawar, who has a good rapport with leaders across the country, could make his task easier, said a senior NCP functionary.

On Tuesday, Trinamool Congress leader Yashwant Sinha, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh will meet at Pawar’s residence. 

Congress leaders have also been extended invitations, but their names could not be confirmed. Sinha, a former BJP minister, has been very vocal against PM Narendra Modi. He joined the three-time West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee-led party ahead of the Assembly polls which saw the TMC setting a new poll record. A senior NCP leader said several regional parties were willing to give ‘unification’ a try.    

Pawar, the NCP’s national president, will also chair the party’s executive meeting in Delhi today. NCP chief spokesperson and minister Nawab Malik said Pawar’s primary objective was to bring all non-BJP parties together. “There are only a few parties that we need to bring on board,” he said.

11
Day this month when PK and Pawar met in Mumbai

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