Chandrababu Naidu meets Rahul Gandhi: Opposition leaders to build anti-BJP front

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who is trying to stitch an alliance of all non-BJP parties, met Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi. The meeting comes amid seat-sharing talks between the two parties for the Assembly elections.

Opposition parties will work together to defeat the BJP, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday, November 1, in the presence of TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The parties will work to ensure that the attack on democratic institutions stops, Rahul Gandhi said after meeting Naidu, who is trying to unite opposition parties to take on the saffron party in the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Rahul Gandhi said opposition parties will work together on most important issues, including unemployment and corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal.

"It is very clear that corruption is taking place. Institutions that can investigate are being attacked... A proper inquiry on what all happened, where the money went and who did corruption... that is what I am pushing very aggressively. Nation wants to know this,” the Congress president said.

“I had a good meeting today with Shri Chandrababu Naidu. Amongst other things, we discussed the issue of opposition unity. I look forward to carrying forward our dialogue and to working together in the upcoming state & general elections,” Congress President, Rahul Gandhi added.

Naidu said he was in discussion with all political parties.

"We will meet on a common platform and chalk out strategies," he said.

Responding to a question, he said, "You are interested in candidates, we are interested in the nation." Naidu's meeting with Rahul Gandhi comes amid seat-sharing talks between the two parties for the December 7 Assembly elections in Telangana.

Naidu "coincidentally" also met senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and briefly discussed about the need to bring all non-BJP political parties together.

Earlier in the day, Naidu met NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah in New Delhi. He also met BSP Chief Mayawati and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, and CPI leaders D Raja and S Sudhakar Reddy in New Delhi.

Accusing the BJP of attacking Constitutional institutions, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said on Thursday that "democracy is in danger" as he met NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

"Democracy is in danger. People are in danger," he told the media, as he announced that he along with Naidu and Pawar would convene a meeting of opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The country was going through a "great crisis", he added at Pawar's residence.

The media address of the two leaders can be seen here:

(with inputs from agencies)