KCR meets Mamata, says this is beginning of ''federal front''

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service 

Kolkata, March 19

The possibility of cobbling up a joint front of like-minded parties minus the Congress to challenge the BJP-led government at the Centre was on Monday discussed in a meeting held here between Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee.

The former came over to the latter's office this afternoon and the two leaders had a lengthy meeting that lasted for around two hours. Later, talking to newspersons, Rao said today's meeting had set the ball rolling for the "non-Congress, non-BJP front".

Rao said the front was being set up since the people of the country wanted something like this. He said the agenda of the front would be quite different from what was being known to people all these years.

"It is not going to be a mere political front of some political parties. It is going to be a front of people. We fully understand that there is a great deal of need for a qualitative change in the country," Rao said and added that they would offer a choice to people beyond the Congress and BJP.

The Telangana Chief Minister said today's meeting was just the beginning and added that there would be other leaders also when they would meet again and shed light on the front's agenda.

When asked if the call for a 'federal front' amounted to saying no to Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee said, "Please do not put words in my mouth. Rahul elucidated his views yesterday. Like him, I am also entitled to express my views."

On the issue of leadership of the front, Rao said there would be a collective leadership. However, he added that leader would emerge as the situation developed.

Banerjee, who is playing a key role in bringing about the front, has earlier spoken to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on the subject. She is also in touch with NCP leader Sharad Pawar and is expected to attend a meeting being held in Delhi next week in this connection.