Stalin, Mamata, KCR not to attend PM’s all-party meet today

A highly placed DMK leader who did not wish to be named, said, “They insist that only party presidents should attend the meeting. Our leader is in Singapore. So, how will he attend? It is highly unlikely.”

The 23-MP strong DMK was learnt to have expressed its views on electing the LS Speaker in the meeting of Opposition hosted by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, which was attended by DMK Parliamentary party leader TR Baalu on Tuesday evening. “The Speaker election was discussed. The meeting will continue again from 10.30am tomorrow (Wednesday),” the leader added. Another leader privy to the meeting disclosed, “It will be unanimous. BJP must consult others,” responding to the DMK’s stand on Speaker election. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday also declined an invitation to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with the chiefs of political parties on simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls among other subjects and asked the Centre to instead prepare a white paper on ‘one nation, one election’ for consultations.

Banerje had skipped a NITI Aayog meeting last Saturday and also did not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a second term on May 30. She had called the NITI Aayog meeting “fruitless”. The TMC supremo’s decision to stay away from Wednesday’s meeting comes against the backdrop of heightened tussle between the ruling party and the BJP in Bengal after the saffron party made inroads into the state. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhara Rao (KCR), will also skip the all-party meeting, as per sources. On his behalf, his son and TRS working president KT Rama Rao will reportedly attend.

Other opposition party leaders, including TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu, and NCP leader Sharad Pawar may also skip the meet.