As Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister H D devegowda in Bengaluru , the meeting raised hopes that the Mahagathbandhan which seemed like a pipe-dream could become reality after the meeting.

The leaders who addressed the media said “For the past four years, the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created so many problems, including the destabilisation of certain constitutionally-created institutions. It is the responsibility of all secular parties to comes together to replace the NDA government,”.

Former Prime minister Deve Gowda expressed happines that Nara Chandrababu Naidu has taken the lead. ” He’s doing his best to consolidate all secular parties to remove the NDA government in 2019. For the same reason, he has come today to meet us to workout strategy to consolidate all these forces. We have discussed steps for the future. He is going to work hard to secure leaders, and the Congress should also cooperate. The country is paramount. Congress has a great responsibility.”

Gowda claimed that although Congress isn’t in power in several states, it will win the upcoming bypolls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.

Naidu after the meeting said his visit to Bengaluru was “to seek Deve Gowda’s blessings and support for this great path”. “We had great relations from the beginning. I cannot forget in my lifetime the amount of respect he has given me. All the leaders have to come together to save the nation and save democracy,” he said.

Naidu who was till  recent part an NDA ally targeted the NDA government, saying that their several institutions had been “destroyed” under Modi’s rule. “The CBI is in trouble. The RBI, which is an autonomous, is under threat. Even the RBI governor is unable to solve the problems that the government has created. They (NDA government) are using these institutions against the Opposition to conduct raids and for total harassment of Opposition leaders. The economy is in doldrums. No results have come from demonetisation. Petrol prices are increasing day by day. The farmers are in trouble. Even minorities are insecure. It is our responsibility to protect this nation and save the Constitution.”

Responding to a question on the grand alliance’s candidate for the 2019 election, Naidu said, “You are interested in the prime ministerial candidate, I am interested in saving the Constitution and the democracy. We will decide on the candidate, but first, we want to protect democracy. Congress is a major Opposition party. Tomorrow(Friday), I’m meeting DMK president MK Stalin. I am interested in consensus. I have taken some initiative. After that we will have a meeting to discuss how to go about it.”

Karnataka Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said that Gowda and Naidu met to “strengthen the hands of all secular forces in the country”. “They have discussed several issues. After Naidu’s entry (in the move to form alliance to oust the BJP), 1996 will again be repeated in 2019 election,” he said.