Talks For Opposition Parties' National Alliance Soon: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut

"There is a need to have a strong alliance of opposition parties in the country. But there can't be an alliance without the Congress party. It will be the soul. Leadership can be decided through consultations," Sanjay Raut told reporters.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that talks for the formation of an alliance of  opposition parties at the national level will start in a few days, and he has discussed the issue with NCP chief Sharad Pawar. He also said that Congress will be the soul of such an alliance. "There is a need to have a strong alliance of opposition parties in the country. But there can't be an alliance without the Congress party. It will be the soul. Leadership can be decided through consultations," Mr Raut told reporters. "The Maha Vikas aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra was formed after three ideologically different parties (Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) came together and the leadership was unanimously given to Uddhav Thackeray. This is an ideal alliance, which is working fine," he said.