NEW DELHI: In order to ensure that unity among opposition parties is strengthened in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former party chief Sonia Gandhi and invited them to Kolkata for a joint public rally to be held on January 19. She also clarified that “the PM candidate will be collectively chosen after BJP has been defeated.”

“It was a political discussion on how we can work together,” Banerjee told reporters after the meeting at Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence, clearly indicating that TMC and Congress will be working together for 2019 polls.

Banerjee’s meeting with the top Congress leaders came after her day-long interactions separately with a host of opposition party leaders in Parliament House on Wednesday, most of who called on her at the TMC party office in the House. Congress leaders Gulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel also called on Banerjee before her meeting with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Making it clear that she was not vying for the post of Prime Minister in 2019, the TMC chief on Wednesday said, no matter how hard BJP tried to break the unity among opposition parties, they have vowed to remain together and are committed to defeat BJP. “We (United Opposition) want to see to it that all opposition parties work together... do hazaar unnis, BJP finish, (in 2019, BJP will be finished). First BJP has to be defeated... if their strategy is to divide us, our strategy is to remain together. Why should we bow down to their strategy,” Banerjee said.

Responding to questions on who will be the PM candidate for the opposition parties and whether she could emerge as the collective choice, the TMC chief said, "I am not for any post. I am interested in seeing that all parties should work together. All political parties will sit together and decide, after defeating BJP."

On Wednesday Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with leaders of various parties including TDP, YSR (Congress), DMK, RJD, SP and JD(S) and invited them to join her rally on January 19 in Kolkata. She also met AIADMK leader Thambidurai in Central Hall and suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad.

She also invited JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to join the rally in Kolkata.

In a surprise move, Banerjee met veteran BJP leader L K Advani in his chamber for half an hour. Later she said, she had great respect for the veterans like Advani and Vajpayee. "I went to meet him and enquired about his health," she said.

While spending time interacting with other party leaders in the Central Hall of Parliament, she appealed to the opposition parties to send a joint delegation to the Election Commission against EVM tampering and holding polls on ballots.

