Demonetisation: BJP ally Shiv Sena to accompany Mamata Banerjee in march to Rashtrapati Bhawan

NDA ally Shiv Sena, National Conference are likely to accompany West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who will lead the MPs of her party TMC in the march to Rashtrapati Bhawan to petition the President against demonetisation of high-value currency notes.

According to TMC sources, while Shiv Sena and National Conference have agreed to be part the march, it is learnt that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is unlikely to join it.

Kejriwal met Mamata after her arrival on Tuesday and both discussed the issue for about 40 minutes.

“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or TMC have always fought against black money. All our MPs will be marching to Rashtrapati Bhawan on Wednesday. Shiv Sena has also confirmed to join the march,” senior TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi said after the meeting between the two leaders.

Asked whether AAP would join the march tomorrow because of its differences with NDA and Shiv Sena, Trivedi said, “What is their differences we are not going into it. But he (Kejriwal) has not said that he will not come. He said he will let us know after the discussion.”

TMC leader Derek O’brien said, “Omar Abdullah (NC leader and former J&K CM) has confirmed to partcipate in the march.  Besides one or two other parties have also confirmed.” He, however, did not elaborate on which these other parties were.

O’brien said, “Our CM is the first person to speak against the demonetisation and we are also first to give notice in Parliament on this. We have already realised that the quicker we found the solution to this problem, the better it is.”

About AAP not joining the march O’brien said, “CM spoke to all parties saying we need to go beyond the political lines. It is for the individual parties. Some people have told if A comes, then B cannot come, If B comes then C cannot come.  So these are issues. So she said ‘these are your political issues. I am here because this is an issue which is going beyond the party lines’.”

Mamata had earlier tweeted: “The situation is serious. Very grim. People are suffering. We will meet the President tomorrow, no matter what.”