Opposition table talk: Let146;s meet again

Leaders of major Opposition parties, in their very first meeting after the Congress made it known in Shimla that it was open to alliances, t...

Leaders of major Opposition parties, in their very first meeting after the Congress made it known in Shimla that it was open to alliances, tonight decided to put up 8216;8216;a united fight8217;8217; to oust the BJP-led government at the Centre.

The mood in the Opposition camp was upbeat with Mulayam Singh Yadav planning to host another meeting within the next two weeks to decide the future course of action against the BJP.

CPIM politburo member Sitaram Yechury acknowledged problems did exist among the parties in states 8212; a reference to West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura where his party and Congress are at loggerheads 8212; but said efforts would be made to put up a united fight.

The dinner meeting, at CPIM leader Somnath Chatterjee8217;s house, was attended among others by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, CPIM veterans Jyoti Basu and Harkishan Singh Surjeet and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. They heard Sonia emphasise that there were no two opinions among Opposition parties in fighting the BJP.

Sharad Pawar8217;s NCP stayed away though Opposition leaders insisted that the party remained with them.

Among others present were CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, senior Congress leaders Manmohan Singh and Shivraj Patil, Amar Singh of Samajwadi Party and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh of RJD.

Indicating that the Assembly polls later this year could also see some sort of Opposition unity, Jyoti Basu said since the Congress was in power in four of the five states going to polls, 8216;8216;we hope that the Congress will talk to us and even if they don8217;t, we will ask people to vote for the Congress.8217;8217;

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Basu dismissed the issue of Sonia8217;s foreign origin by countering: 8216;8216;Tell me, under which article of the Constitution of India can you stop Sonia from becoming the PM of the country?8217;8217;

Bardhan, on his part, tried to provide a clearer picture: 8216;8216;There will be no alliance or front but we have decided to fight BJP together and unitedly.8217;8217;

While Chatterjee described the meeting as 8216;8216;very fruitful8217;8217;, Congress leader Shivraj Patil said there was consensus among Opposition leaders to work together.

Yechury was also hopeful: 8216;8216;We realise the problems that may arise on seat-sharing but we will be talking to each other to resolve them by assessing who is more capable to defeat the BJP in which state. This will be decided through assessment and steps will be taken accordingly.8217;8217;

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RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh too had similar views: 8216;8216;Why should we cut into each other8217;s votes and help the BJP?8217;8217; Meanwhile, reacting to the Opposition announcement, the BJP tonight said 8216;8216;it only shows the frustration of the Opposition parties as their very political existence is at stake.8217;8217;

BJP general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said people were keenly observing the 8216;8216;undemocratic and illogical8217;8217; actions of the Opposition in stalling parliamentary proceedings.

8216;8216;It is unfortunate that they have joined hands for illogical and undemocratic moves instead of something constructive. The BJP and NDA are united to effectively counter all such moves,8217;8217; Naqvi said.