Congress runs into opposition in Opposition

Congress plans to unite the Opposition for an onslaught on the government looks to be a non-starter with most parties deciding to stay away from a joint press conference it has scheduled for Tuesday. Still miffed over Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the last day of the winter session of Parliament, most Opposition leaders said the Congress did not consult or inform them about the agenda of the press conference.

Barring the Trinamool Congress, DMK, JD(S) and the RJD, most in the Opposition camp said they had decided to stay away from the Tuesday event. CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury announced his party would not attend the press conference. Sources said Yechury, who is in Kolkata attending a party meeting, spoke to leaders of several parties which resulted in a coordinated boycott of the Congress event.