Opposition leaders seem to be now planning to meet in New Delhi after May 23, the day the results of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls would be declared, rather than before as suggested by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party leader N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Top sources in the Trinamool Congress said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had indicated to Mr. Naidu that such meetings should be held after the results are declared, and it would not be very useful to meet before the actual numbers are out.
According to sources, Ms. Banerjee conveyed that it was necessary to focus on the counting on May 23 rather than a roundtable meeting on May 21. Spending a day in Delhi during counting was “meaningless.” Instead, the focus should be on “imparting proper training” to the counting agents. Also, there was no need for any meeting before the results, which are expected on May 23, she reportedly told Mr. Naidu.
There were “similar indications” from Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav too.