Sonia Gandhi to Host Non-BJP Party Leaders in Delhi on 23 May

Sonia Gandhi has written to many non-BJP party leaders to meet on 23 May.

(Photo: AP)

Taking the lead in uniting the Opposition as the Lok Sabha elections are set to reach its last phase, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is set to host all the non-BJP parties on 23 May in Delhi, as per NDTV.

Gandhi has reportedly written to DMK chief MK Stalin, along with the Janata Dal (Secular), Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the UP Mahagathbandhan party leaders Mayawati of BSP and SP's Akhilesh Yadav.

As per News18, she has extended invitation to Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal and K Chandrasekhar Rao’s Telangana Rashtra Samithi too,in order to stop the BJP at the Centre.

As per NDTV, Telugu Desam Party's N Chandrababu Naidu and Sharad Pawar are likely to attend the meet. Sonia Gandhi, who was seen with Priyanka Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh in public meetings, has mostly stayed behind the scenes this general elections.

However, sources said this move holds importance as it sends out a message that all UPA and non-NDA allies as well as parties need to be together, according to Asian Age.

On 13 May, it was reported that the non-BJP opposition parties are unlikely to meet on 21 May as Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has requested Naidu to fix a date after the declaration of results on 23 May for it, at the convenience of other parties.

During their meeting on 9 May, the AP chief minister reportedly suggested to his West Bengal counterpart that a meeting of the non-BJP opposition parties be convened on 21 May to discuss the post-poll strategy.

She had, however, expressed reservations over this, citing the impending counting of votes on 23 May.

(With inputs from PTI, News18, NDTV and Asian Age)