Kolkata (West Bengal): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is slated to visit the national capital New Delhi on July 26 where she will hold talks with leaders of non-BJP parties amid the renewed buzz over the formation of an anti-BJP front ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, TMC party sources said. Earlier, she was expected to visit the national capital on July 25 which was, however, postponed. Banerjee is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Sonia Gandhi. TMC leader and Banerjee's nephew, Abishek Banerjee is also expected to visit the national capital four days before her visit.
The talk of an anti-BJP front got revived after leaders of various parties and prominent individuals congregated at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's New Delhi residence last month. However, there was no tangible movement forward in that direction at the meeting hosted by Pawar and called by former union minister Yashwant Sinha, who is now in the TMC. Sinha, a former BJP stalwart, is a strident critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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The speculation about an anti-BJP coalition grew again after election strategist Prashant Kishor had a string of meetings with Pawar and the Gandhi's, including the one he had with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Vadra together. Though what exactly transpired at the parleys is not known yet, media speculated a broad-based coalition against the Centre's ruling NDA might have been on the agenda. Banerjee, who is likely to spend a few days in the national capital, has apparently timed her visit to coincide with the monsoon session of Parliament as senior leaders of opposition parties will be in town.
The sources said Banerjee may visit some other states as well. On her part, Banerjee told at a press conference that there was nothing unusual about her visit. 'Every time after elections I visit Delhi to meet old and new friends. So, this time too, I would be going to Delhi for a few days as the COVID-19 situation is presently under control,' she said. Mamata didi has grown in stature after defeating the BJP in the assembly elections. She now wants to reach out to anti-BJP and non-BJP parties at the national level ahead of the 2024 general elections, a TMC leader said.
