Presidential Polls: Uddhav Won't Attend Mamata's Oppn Meet, Raut Says 'Prominent' Sena Leader To Take Part

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was invited to a meeting of opposition leaders on June 15 called by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in view of the presidential elections.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray (L) and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (R)

New Delhi: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was invited to a meeting of opposition leaders on June 15 called by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, but as Sena leaders will be in Ayodhya at that time, another prominent leader of the party will participate in the meeting. CM Mamata Banerjee had written to opposition chief ministers and leaders of parties opposed to the BJP for a meeting in view of the presidential elections.

The meeting has been called on June 15 to strengthen resistance against "divisive force". It will be held at the Constitution Club in Delhi.

Uddhav Ji has received an invite to June 15 meeting in Delhi. As we will be in Ayodhya at that time, a prominent leader of our party will take part in the meeting: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Mamata Banerjee invites Opposition leaders for a meeting ahead of Presidential polls pic.twitter.com/Xc6a4L8aVR

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2022

As per news agency ANI, Mamata Banerjee has written to 22 political leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.

Besides the chief ministers, she has also written to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

In a tweet, Trinamool Congress stated that Mamata Banerjee has called upon all progressive opposition forces to meet and deliberate on the future course of action keeping the Presidential elections in sight at the Constitution Club, New Delhi.

"The Presidential elections are around the corner, presenting the perfect opportunity for all progressive parties to reconvene and deliberate on the future course of Indian politics," Banerjee wrote in the letter. "The election is monumental because it gives the legislators the opportunity to participate in deciding the Head of our State who is the custodian of our democracy. At a time when our democracy is going through troubling times, I believe that a fruitful confluence of opposition voices is the need of the hour; to echo the deprived and unrepresented communities," she added.

The TMC supremo said all progressive forces in the country need to remain aligned "and resist the divisive force that is plaguing us today."

She alleged that opposition leaders are being "deliberately targeted by different central agencies, the country's image is maligned internationally and bitter dissensions are created within". "It is time we strengthen our resistance," the letter mentioned.

The Election Commission of India has announced that the next presidential elections will be held on July 18 and votes will be counted on July 21. 

(With Agency Inputs)