BJP says 'zero plus zero equals zero' as Telangana CM KCR meets Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik over a regional front

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and emphasised a "dire need" for unification of regional parties to provide an alternative to Congress and BJP ahead of 2019 general elections.

meeting between two leaders assumed significance amid talks about efforts on formation of a new political front of like-minded, n-BJP and n-Congress parties to take on national ones in upcoming polls.

"I can say certainly that re is a dire need for unification of regional parties in country. We strongly believe that re has to be an alternative to Congress and BJP," Rao told reporters after meeting BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.

Both chief ministers had a detailed discussion on national issues, including need for "better friendship among regional parties", Patnaik said.

"This is just beginning of a dialogue... We will meet again and discuss how to take things forward," Rao said. 

After an impressive victory of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in state assembly poll, Rao has embarked on a journey to bring toger anti-Congress and anti-BJP parties for next year's Lok Sabha polls.

TRS chief is scheduled to meet West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Monday.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi goes to Hyderabad and says TRS is "B team" of Congress,  its president Rahul Gandhi claim that TRS president is "B team" of BJP, Rao said, adding, "Let me tell you, we are our own team."

Senior Congress leader and party in-charge for Telangana, Ramachandra Khuntia, alleged that Rao's meeting with Patnaik is part of a game plan to weaken proposed "Mahagathbandhan" (grand alliance) among n-BJP parties.

Telangana CM has been acting at behest of saffron party and NDA to dilute efforts of like-minded, n-BJP parties for formation of a grand alliance before general elections, Khuntia claimed.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Rao's visit will have impact on BJP's electoral prospects as "zero added to zero will have value".