File pic of Sharad Yadav

Talks of opposition parties coming together to upset the ruling BJP-led NDA have gained momentum as the presidential elections approach closer.

At a gathering on late socialist Madhu Limaya’s 95th birth anniversary here yesterday, opposition parties discussed the possibility of forging a grand alliance by burying their differences to challenge the BJP in the presidential election.

The opposition believes that a dent to the BJP’s chances of getting their man of choice appointed to the top constitutional post would come as a huge setback for the ruling coalition ahead of 2019 polls.

Speculation of Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav emerging as a likely consensus candidate in this coming together of the opposition parties got another boost on Moonday. Yadav, who attended yesterday's event, said that the unity among anti-BJP parties have already begun in the Parliament and was now expanding to the ground as well.

Accusing the BJP-RSS of imposing its ideological, political and cultural vision everywhere, Yadav said that under the NDA regime, the situation from Jammu and Kashmir to Northeast to South has become tense and fragile.

“May I warn this government if its policies spin J&K situation out of control, it will amount to the success of Jinnah’s two-nation theory,” he said.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh, who also attended the event, asked ‘all progressive forces to wage a united fight against BJP and RSS on basis of issues and ideology’.

He also noted that the how the Congress-Samajwadi-Communist political streams, despite their ideological differences, have always been different from the ‘divisive and communal approach of BJP and Sangh’.

“It is important not to convert political fight into mere clash of personalities as the BJP and NDA regime are trying in order to divert focus from their policies administrative failures,” Singh said.

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said that the policies of NDA government is challenging the Constitutional principles.

The need of the hour, he said, is to pit ‘patriotism against RSS nationalism and counter Hindutva nationalism with Indian nationalism’.

In recent past, there were some signs that opposition parties were serious considering coming together to challenge the BJP-led NDA.

This was evident when several opposition leaders including Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav, Yechury and others met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her Delhi residence to discuss putting up a common candidate for the Presidential elections scheduled in July.

Presidential polls are scheduled for July this year. Incumbent Pranab Mukherjee so far appears unlikely to contest for a second term.

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