Anti-BJP Front: Andhra CM Naidu meets Rahul Gandhi, asks more parties to join hands

In order "to save the nation", all parties are required to join the Mahagathbandhan out of "democratic compulsion", Naidu said.

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With the 'Mahagathbandhan' of opposition parties taking shape ahead of Lok Sabha polls, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, and TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said some more parties will be asked to join it.

Naidu, who was on one-day visit to the national capital, met Pawar, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and discussed the issue in the wake of a rally in Kolkata being organised by Trinamool Congress on January 19, where Opposition parties will put up a show of unity.

"When we reach Kolkata, there could be leaders from some other parties. We have neither met them nor discussed it (Mahagathbandhan) with them. But we are going to suggest them that after the rally, let sit together and discuss future course of action," Pawar told reporters.

"If there is a unanimity, then let us start exhibiting the programme which we finalise after the meeting," he added.

Echoing the view, Naidu said if the unanimity occurs, meetings would be held subsequently in Delhi to decide the future course of action.

In order "to save the nation", all parties are required to join the Mahagathbandhan out of "democratic compulsion", he added.

Sources said Naidu discussed with Gandhi the strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming general elections.

Naidu said he supported the 10 percent quota for economically weaker sections in general category, but the BJP-led Central government should have brought it earlier by discussing it with states.

Tension has been rising between the two parties ever since TDP pulled out of the NDA in March last year over the Centre not fulfilling the promises made to Andhra Pradesh at the time of State's bifurcation.

The main bone of contention was the TDP’s demand to grant Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh.

IANS inputs