Another conclave of Oppn leaders likely next week

The national capital may play host to another Opposition congregation next week, against alleged misuse of probe agencies by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to target its political opponents.

The proposed protest demonstration in New Delhi may also be yet another show of Opposition unity, ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. It is likely to be themed “Save Constitution, Save Democracy, Save Federalism”.

Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo, is likely to visit New Delhi early next week. Her Andhra Pradesh counterpart and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu is expected to join her on a sit-in demonstration on Wednesday or Thursday to protest alleged misuse of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to harass and intimidate the leaders of opposition parties. Chief Minister of Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party supremo, Arvind Kejriwal, is also likely to join.

The Congress is learnt to be in touch with the Trinamool Congress. The two parties are discussing the possibility of Congress President Rahul Gandhi as well as the Chief Ministers of some Congress-ruled states joining the protest, sources told DH on Friday.

The Trinamool Congress has also been in touch with Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. According to the sources, senior leaders of the two parties may take part even if Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati do not.

The leaders of National Conference, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Janata Dal (Secular) are also being counted.

Focal point

Banerjee's latest sit-in demonstration was in Kolkata to protest a move by the CBI to question city police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with a chit fund scam, allegedly involving her party leaders.

She drew flak from the ruling BJP but she reciprocated in equal measure and slammed the BJP government after the ED questioned Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra in connection with a case of alleged money laundering on Wednesday.

Her January 19 rally, which saw many Opposition leaders joining her in Kolkata, and the latest sit-in placed her at the centre of the yet-to-be formalised “mahagathbandhan” or great alliance of Opposition parties against the ruling BJP.