Mayawati meets Akhilesh, discusses exit poll projections
   Date :21-May-2019

 
 
LUCKNOW:
 
BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav met here on Monday after exit polls indicated gains for their alliance in the politically important state of Uttar Pradesh. Yadav, who had formed a coalition with the BSP and the RLD to take on the BJP, drove to the residence of Mayawati and the closed door talks lasted for almost an hour. Details of what transpired between the two top leaders was not known immediately. On Saturday, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu had met both Yadav and Mayawati in the UP capital separately to discuss possibility of non-BJP parties coming together in the event of a fractured verdict. Forecast of good showing for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh by the Lok Sabha exit polls had its impact on the Samajwadi Party, with its headquarters Monday bereft of any enthusiasm and the party supremo Akhilesh Yadav going into a huddle with senior party leaders.
 
A day after curtains came down on polling, there was silence in the Opposition party’s office, with Yadav closeted with SP leaders to discuss future strategy after May 23 results of the Lower House of Parliament. The SP office here, which is generally abuzz with activities of party workers, was less crowded in the morning with some party supporters seen discussing the future prospects of the party and outcome of its alliance with the BSP and the RLD to keep the saffron party at bay. BSP president Mayawati on Monday appeared to be opting for a wait-and watch-policy till the Lok Sabha election results are announced on May 23.
 
“The future course of action will be decided only after the final results are announced. Till then, she (Mayawati) will be staying put in the state capital,” a party source said, requesting anonymity. Different exit polls have suggested that the SP-BSP-RLD alliance is all set to dent the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 2014 tally in Uttar Pradesh, though it might not be able to throw a spanner in the formation of an NDA Government at the Centre.
 
Chandrababu calls on Mamata for formation of non-BJP Govt in case of hung verdict
 
KOLKATA:
 
ANDHRA Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence here Monday to decide on forming a non-BJP Government at the Centre in case of a hung verdict, TMC sources said.
 
Naidu, who reached here from Amaravati, held a 45-minute-long meeting with Banerjee on the future strategies of the “Mahagatbandhan” (Grand Alliance), the highly-placed sources said. The meeting also discussed possibilities of forming a non-BJP Government including regional parties with the support of the Congress, they said. “It was decided at Monday’s meeting that a detailed discussion will be held among other political players of the Mahagatbandhan in the event of a hung verdict after the poll results are declared on May 23, the sources said.
 
The decision on Banerjee going to New Delhi would also be taken after May 23, the sources said. Naidu, who is making efforts to bring together Opposition leaders against the BJP, left for New Delhi after the meeting. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav telephoned Banerjee during the day and discussed the proposed strategy of the “Mahagathbandhan”, the sources said.