After JD (U), NCP skips Opposition meet called by Sonia Gandhi

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday skipped the crucial meeting convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The move comes amid reports that two MLAs of the NCP in Gujarat may have voted for the BJP and not for the Congress candidate Ahmed Patel in the recently held Rajya Sabha elections.

NCP on Friday alleged that Congress is spreading lies in spite the fact that NCP voted for Ahmed Patel, reports ANI.

The grand alliance already seriously dented by the exit of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar last month, now appears to have shrunk from 18 to 16 members.
Earlier, Pawar had earlier confirmed that he would depute a representative to this meet.

The meeting was called to work out an effective strategy to take on the Centre when the Monsoon session ends. Reportedly, an invite was sent to leaders of opposition parties, including Sharad Pawar by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on behalf of the Congress chief.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, AK Antony, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, NCs Omar Abdullah, CPI leader D Raja, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury and others were present at the meeting.