National Conference chief Omar Abdullah called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Friday, 27 July, to explore the possibility of a grand alliance against the ruling government ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the country.

Following the meeting with the Trinamool Congress chief, Abdullah, who arrived in West Bengal today for a two-day trip, praised Banerjee for supporting the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Abdullah said that there is a situation of fear in the country.

“No discussion would be complete without a discussion on the prevailing situation in the country; the fear that prevails within the minority communities,” he said referring to the numerous cases of lynchings of members of minority communities.

Abdullah added that there is a “need to put together a united front and take on the BJP in the forthcoming general elections”.

The former Jammu-Kashmir Chief Minister also recalled how as the Railway Minister during the UPA era, Banerjee extended her support to the development of Jammu-Kashmir and the people of the state. He said that the two leaders also discussed tourism – an integral part of J-K’s economy and West Bengal’s contribution to the same.

When asked who will be the prime ministerial face of a united federal front, Omar said that it was a moot point as there was still time for the elections.

“Abhi to humne parche bhi nahi bhare, na koi tareekh aayi hai. Abhi se kaha se pradhan mantri pad ki baat hone lagi, (We have not even filed our nomination papers and neither has any date been announced. How can we talk about PM’s post?)” Omar told reporters.

Banerjee has been trying to forge an alliance of like-minded, anti-BJP parties in order to pose a credible challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019.

On 19 March Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had called on Banerjee at Nabanna to take ahead discussions on “federal front”. On 9 March, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel visited her at the state secretariat and said he has spoken to party chief Sharad Pawar and has called a meeting to discuss the future strategy of national politics.

On 25 July, TMC Member of the Parliament in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien projected Banerjee as a fit candidate for the post of the Prime Minister because of her image as a mass leader who has acceptance not only in her home state but also the country.

Read More: Mamata Banerjee emerging as front runner for PM is nothing new: Derek O’Brien

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, O’Brien said that the period 2018-19 is the year of “think federal”. He said that the objective is to remove the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre.

“This 2018-2019. This is the year of ‘think federal’. But these things would be decided later. The reality is that everyone is focused on electing a people-centric government and removing the BJP. So, one of the most senior leader in this matrix is Mamata Banerjee,” O’Brien told reporters.

On 21 July, Banerjee, at a massive rally in the heart of Kolkata, announced the launch of “BJP hatao, desh bachao” (Remove BJP, save nation) campaign from 15 August.

The 63-year-old Banerjee accused the BJP of looting the nation and held the saffron party responsible for the rising attacks on minorities by fundamentalist Hindus. She said that the saffron party preaches Talibani Hinduism.

Read More: Mamata Banerjee launches ‘BJP hatao, desh bachao’ campaign

“What Hinduism does the BJP preaches? Talibani Hindu? Are not Swami Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda Hindus? We do not accept the Hindutva of BJP. We have our own Hindutva,” declared Banerjee.