Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday met DMK president MK Stalin in a bid to forge a grand alliance against the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections, and urged the Opposition parties to sink their differences in the interest of the nation and democracy.
“We are all together in bringing parties on one platform. One or two may have differences of opinion. We (TDP) had differences with Congress for 40 years but at the same time now we are working how to bring together all. Democracy is important. It is for people to sink their differences. People are prepared now,” he told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Stalin at his residence.
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On Thursday, Naidu met former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru. He is expected to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee soon.
“I am in touch with Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal Chief Minister) and would be meeting her soon as part of these efforts,” he said.
Recalling his meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi last week in the national capital, he said, “All of us want to join together and save the nation.”
After the meeting with Naidu, Stalin also joined the chorus in criticising the BJP government.
“The anti-people, anti-democratic BJP-led union government should be unseated. I extend my whole-hearted support (for Naidu’s efforts in forging an anti-BJP alliance) on behalf of DMK,” he said.
“I have already made a request to all (non-BJP) Chief Ministers and leaders in the country to work together to unseat the BJP, which is keen on snatching away the autonomy of the State governments,” Stalin added.
In his efforts to stitch a grand alliance, Naidu has been touring the country recently and meeting leaders of various regional and national parties with only a few months left for the Lok Sabha polls.
(With agency inputs)
