AMN / New Delhi
Welcoming efforts by All India Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to form a new front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress on Thursday said all the political parties should come forward to join hands with party president Rahul Gandhi.
Talking to MEDIA PERSONS here, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said, ‘the ideology of Ms Mamata Banerjee has been in line with that of the Congress since the days of the youth Congress. We have all the respect for Ms Banerjee and all the Opposition leaders.’
Calling on all the parties to come together and join hands with Congress president Rahul Gandhi regardless of their ideologies, Mr Surjewala said, ‘Today, in India the battle is to save the Institutions, Democracy, economy and the idea of social justice. Today the battle is not between political parties but the forces that represent the idea of India.
In this battle, all the political parties are welcome to join hands with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who represents the biggest opposition party in the country.’
‘We will fight this battle together, notwithstanding our ideological differences because Mr Rahul Gandhi believes that the country is bigger than a party,’ Mr Surjewala said.
It is notable that Ms Mamata Banerjee met former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday night and held discussions on the formation of a joint opposition front. Over the past few days, she has met leaders of JMM, NCP, Shiv Sena and rebel BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha and Arun Shourie as part of her efforts.