West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Tuesday, met NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his residence ahead of an Opposition meeting scheduled ot be held on Wednesday to discuss fielding a common candidate in the Presidential polls.

”Our honourable chairperson @MamataOfficial met Shri @PawarSpeaks today. Two stalwart leaders set the stage for the meeting of all progressive opposition forces; set to happen tomorrow at the Constitution Club, New Delhi. Our resolve to fight divisive forces grows stronger!” the Trinamool Congress tweeted.

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The Opposition is trying to build a consensus around Pawar for the July 18 election though the former Union minister and former Maharashtra chief minister does not seem to be keen on contesting the election.

Mamata has convened the Opposition leaders’ meeting on 15 June in a bid to unite the Opposition parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and prepare a joint strategy for the presidential polls.

Banerjee had written letters to 22 Opposition leaders, including the Left parties, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and Pawar, among others, urging them to attend the 15 June meeting in New Delhi.

The BJP, meanwhile, has authorised party president J P Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to hold discussions with all political parties on the presidential poll.