Is Mayawati meeting Sonia Gandhi in Delhi today? BSP leader SC Mishra clarifies

As speculations were rife that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati would hold meeting with Opposition parties, party leader Satish Chandra Mishra on Monday clarified that Mayawati has no programme or meetings scheduled in Delhi today and that she would be in Lucknow for the day. Mishra told news agency ANI, "Mayawati ji has no programme or meetings scheduled in Delhi today, she will be in Lucknow.”

It was widely reported that the BSP chief would meet Congress’ Sonia Gandhi in Delhi ahead of the election results on May 23.

With the results of the Lok Sabha polls due very soon, the leaders of non-NDA parties have stepped up their efforts to cobble up a coalition for formation of the next government, with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu meeting Congress, CPI, NCP and other leaders on Saturday.

Hours after meeting Congress president Rahul Gandhi and discussing with him the possibilities of all opposition parties uniting and forging a joint opposition alliance, Naidu met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati. 

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister also met CPI leader G Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja over breakfast, asking them to "come together". Naidu also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar, LJD leader Sharad Yadav.

The TDP chief has already held several rounds of discussions with various opposition leaders, including TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

"Naidu reportedly told all the leaders that we all should come together and put our act together", in forming the next government by keeping the BJP out, a source said.

Sources said Naidu also told Gandhi to have a strategy ready, in case the NDA falls short of the majority mark and still stakes claim to form the government.

Earlier, it was reported that Opposition is planning to meet the President after the elections are over, to urge him not to call the single largest party to form the government in case of hung Parliament.

On Friday, Naidu had said that not only the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) but any outfit which is against the saffron party are welcome to join a grand alliance after the election results are declared.

Opposition parties are pitching for a joint anti-BJP front to steer the next government.

Hectic deliberations between various opposition leaders are likely to stepped up before the Lok Sabha results are announced on May 23.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has called for a meeting of leaders of non-NDA parties on May 23.

According to news agency ANI, Sonia – expecting that the BJP will fall short of majority – has invited leaders of secular parties including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK president M K Stalin, RJD and Trinamool Congress for the meeting.