With a number of Chief Ministers and party leaders from across the country gathering in Bengaluru ahead of the swearing-in of HD Kumaraswamy, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu addressed the media after holding a meeting.

Both leaders expressed their happiness at the impending swearing-in of Kumaraswamy spoke about their mutual support for regional parties as being the reason for their presence at the ceremony.

Speaking first, Chandrababu Naidu said:

"All regional parties... we're expressing our solidarity. We'll work together in the future also to protect ourselves and also to promote national development. That is our agenda."

When asked about forming a front against the Narendra Modi-led government, Naidu was less forthcoming, saying "Regional parties are all coming together. We want to express our solidarity. This is a very good occasion."

When probed further, he said, "What we are doing, you are watching. We want to promote more and more regional parties. We want to strengthen. That is Mamata ji's mission and ours."

Mamata Banerjee concurred with her Andhra Pradesh counterpart, adding that she wanted to congratulate the people of Karnataka and that she was grateful for being invited.

"All regional parties are present to support Kumaraswamy ji and his government. We'll keep in touch with regional parties so we can work together for development of the nation, people and that of the federal setup."

"If the state is strong, the Centre is always strong. Therefore our vision and mission is very clear that we can meet, visit and talk. That will give us more strength for the future of the parties."

When asked if the Congress was a part of their efforts, she said that the Congress would follow its agenda and they would follow theirs, though she recognised that the Congress was also going to be a part of the Karnataka government.

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She was asked about the Centre with regard to the events in Tuticorin, she said that it was an unfortunate matter and that nobody could support people being killed. She offered her condolences to the families of those who have died and cited how DMK chief Stalin wasn't able to come to Bengaluru because of the events surrounding the protest against the Sterlite Copper unit there.

Finally, Mamata Banerjee was asked about the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and BJP president Amit Shah claiming that the regional parties coming together wouldn't come in the way of Narendra Modi winning. She said:

"A party's leader can speak for their party. I can say we have come here to strengthen regional parties and we will continue to do so. We will not stop. When we make a promise, we fulfill it. We act with conviction. We'll do what's happening for the nation and the regional parties."

"Amit Shah said what he wanted to say and we said what we wanted to say."

As Chandrababu Naidu also joined in, saying "they want to taunt, let them taunt", Mamata Banerjee cut him off, saying, "there is a saying in Hindi what workers and farmers use -- 'Jo humse takraayega, choor choor ho jayega.'(Whoever clashes against us will get crushed) Like that only, clashing with regional parties doesn't work. If regional parties are there only then will nation be strong. If Regional parties come together, greatest strength is theirs. That should be understood."

Watch their full remarks in the video above.