New Delhi: Amid the ongoing turf war within the Opposition ahead of the much-awaited 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday evening met former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and said that there cannot be any Opposition front without the grand old party.


Raut's remarks are touted to be an indirect jibe at Trinamool Congress (TMC ) supremo Mamata Banerjee, who is reportedly mulling a joint alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, excluding Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance).


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"There can be no Opposition front without the Congress. Even if there is a new alliance, it will work under the leadership of Congress. There are many parties with Congress. Why two-three front are required? What to do with so many fronts? It will benefit the BJP," Raut said while speaking to reporters.


"We are trying to unite the opposition ahead of 2024, in fact I have asked Rahul Ji to take a lead for it," the Shiv Sena leader said after meeting Rahul Gandhi.


Further commenting on the face of Opposition, Raut said, "The face of the opposition front may be a matter of discussion. Rahul Gandhi will soon visit Mumbai. There should be only one opposition front."


When asked to share points of discussion during his meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Raut said that it was a long meeting and he will first meet Sena chief Uddhav Thackery and then talk about it.


On the question of a meeting of Opposition parties to discuss strategy against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for 2024 national elections, Raut said that he has asked Rahul Gandhi to initiate the process.


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Ahead of his meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Raut has declared that the "Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra is like a mini-United Progressive Alliance" which is doing well. 


Raut's open support to the Congress at a time when Banerjee is loudly hammering coffin-nails for the UPA has triggered speculation whether Sena is joining the UPA and if it would support the Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and other states.