Opp to meet on Friday, strategies to take on Modi govt

The Opposition parties will meet on Friday to chalk out post-Parliament session strategy to take on the Narendra Modi-led government.
Sources said the meeting could see the presence of a couple of JD(U) leaders, who are unhappy with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to align with BJP. Senior leader Sharad Yadav would be in Bihar on Friday.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi will chair the meeting of 18 parties in Parliament House on Friday evening after the conclusion of Monsoon Session.

The sources said invitation has gone to 18 Opposition parties for the meeting, which could see the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee among others.
A senior Opposition leader told DH that they were happy with the way the parties coordinated on the floor of Parliament during the session and the Friday meeting could further provide a strategy for coordination between parties outside the House.

"There is a three-month gap for the next (Winter) session of Parliament. We cannot leave the ground empty. So the meeting will discuss next steps of coordination," the leader said.

The meeting could discuss strategy for action on the ground as well as counter the BJP on social media as well.

This is the first joint meeting of the Opposition parties after JD(U) broke ranks with them.

The 18 parties, barring JD(U), had stood together in the Presidential polls while JD(U) had joined them in the vice presidential polls.