Opposition unity sans Congress will not succeed against BJP: Omar Abdullah
Kolkata: National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah has asserted that the Congress would be indispensable in the unity of all the anti-BJP parties to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha (LS) elections next year.
Hailing UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for leading initiatives he also made it clear that the opposition's unity would not be successful sans the Congress. Abdullah however sounded optimistic about the formation of a concrete platform by the anti-BJP parties ahead of the LS polls.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister's comments came a day after he met Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Friday and discussed the prospect and strategies of Federal Front floated by the West Bengal chief minister to oust the BJP from power. On Saturday he attended a seminar on federalism called Think Federal in the city.
"The question you asked about Mamata Didi's proposal it is exactly what we are discussing that how best can the regional parties come together to take on the BJP in the forthcoming General Election. Obviously no effort towards opposition unity will really succeed unless the Congress also is able to take the fight to the BJP in the way which we hope. So this is an ongoing conversation," Abdullah told the media on the sidelines of the event.
Asked about the ongoing talks between the anti-BJP parties to come under one umbrella he elaborated, "You have seen a number of efforts made particularly by Sonia Gandhi to bring the opposition parties together. Most recently you have seen all the opposition parties coming together for the swearing-in of the chief minister of Karnataka."
Abdullah noted, "There will be other attempts made in other states as well. It is an ongoing process. As we get closer to the General Elections in 2019, I am sure it will take on a greater shape."
