Mamata meets senior opposition leaders ahead of January 19 rally

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday called on a number of senior opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, who arrived here to take part in Banerjee's mega anti-BJP rally on January 19.

Banerjee was seen exchanging pleasantries with Deve Gowda and former Arunachal Pradesh CM Gegong Apang in a plush central Kolkata hotel and updated the leaders about Saturday's rally.

She also enquired about veteran politician Deve Gowda's health.

When asked by the media about the discussions she had with the Pawar and Deve Gowda, Banerjee Banerjee did not share any details.

"I came here to meet Deve Gowda ji, Sharad Pawar ji and Apang. Many other leaders are coming to the city. Now I am going to meet Akhilesh (Yadav) and a few others who are staying in a different hotel," she said before rushing out.

A number of senior opposition leaders arrived in the city on Friday to take part in January 19 rally expected to further strengthen the opposition unity and send out a strong message to BJP.