Lok Sabha polls 2024: Mamata hints opposition alliance after meeting Sonia

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has tipped off coalition of the opposition parties after meeting Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

“The meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi was a very positive one and we hope something positive will come out of it in the near future,” Mamata Banerjee said while speaking to press at 10 Janpath on Wednesday (July 28).

The West Bengal CM said, Sonia invited her for tea at her residence and several issues were taken on the table where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also present.

"Country’s political situation in general was discussed in the meeting along with Pegasus spyware snooping controversy and the Covid-19 situation," she said.

While asked if the meeting also touched upon the opposition's preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mamata Banerjee said talks on the unity of opposition parties held during the meeting.

Mamata Banerjee is on her first visit to Delhi after her party won the West Bengal Assembly election in May this year.

During her five-day visit, she has been meeting leaders of several opposition parties, and also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a "courtesy visit" on Tuesday (July 27).

Mamata and Sonia are expected to discuss the opposition's long-term plans to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Terming many opposition leaders as friends Mamata on Tuesday said, “I will meet Arvind Kejriwal day after tomorrow. Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi asked for time, I have given them time. I will meet my party MPs tomorrow. I met Congress leaders Kamal Nath, Anand Sharma and Abhishek Manu Singhvi today."

Replying to queries of newsmen she said, unity of the opposition parties would take place naturally, automatically.

“I will meet all Opposition members after the Parliament session is over and the coronavirus situation normalizes,” added she.

When asked if she has lined up a series of meetings with the Opposition parties with the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in mind, Mamata Banerjee said the elections are far away but planning for it has to be done in advance.