Sonia calls meet of all non-BJP allies on May 23

New Delhi: In a move clearly aimed at strengthening Opposition unity and to checkma-te the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi has written to all allies including the non-UPA ones — namely the BJD, YSR Congress, TRS and TDP — inviting them all for a meeting on May 23 to discuss the future course of action.

The meeting, which has been called on the day when the Lok Sabha elections results are to be announced, holds significance as sources point out that the message sent out by Ms Gandhi is that all UPA and non-NDA allies as well as parties need to rally together after the poll verdict.

With the UPA chairperson personally writing to UPA allies and non-NDA parties, the meeting could discuss the roadm-ap for the future political course of action, in case the final numbers are not in favour of the NDA once results are announced.

While the UPA allies are on board, sources said that special efforts have been made to bring on board the non-NDA entities like the BJD, YSR Congress and TRS for the proposed meeting.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath is learnt to have personally spoken to his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik, requesting him to attend the May 23 meeting. Both the leaders have known each other personally since their earlier days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Mr Patnaik after both of them conducted the aerial survey of the cyclone-affected regions of Odisha, had given a lot of grist to speculations regarding the BJP sending signals to the BJD in case there is a case of an alliance after the results.

Ms Gandhi’s outreach to the Odisha chief minister, therefore, holds a lot of political significance.

Whether Mr Patnaik attends the May 23 meeting, along with YSR Congress’ Jagan Mohan Reddy and TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao, would depend entirely on the poll results. However, as of now, the UPA chairperson’s overtures to these leaders clearly indicate that the political scenario after the Lok Sabha election results may not be entirely black or white.