New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is gearing up for a crucial meeting on Tuesday, as the ruling alliance seeks to demonstrate its strength amidst growing efforts by opposition parties to forge unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Simultaneously, opposition parties have convened in Bengaluru to strategize their campaign.
The upcoming NDA meeting in New Delhi is expected to witness the participation of both existing and new BJP allies. In recent weeks, the ruling party has been diligently working to form fresh alliances and win back former partners who had departed from the coalition.
Although the exact number of parties attending the meeting has not been officially announced, sources suggest that the representation will be comprehensive, encompassing all regions of the country. This gathering aims to showcase the expanded strength of the NDA, addressing previous criticism that the BJP had struggled to maintain unity within its alliance.
Having experienced the departure of key allies such as the Janata Dal (United), Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray, and Akali Dal, the BJP has successfully formed alliances with new partners. These include the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, SBSP led by O P Rajbhar in Uttar Pradesh, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) led by Jitan Ram Manjhi, and RLSP led by Upendra Kushwala.
BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda has extended invitations to these parties, urging their presence at the meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders of the ruling party will also attend the gathering.
Several other parties, including the AIADMK of Tamil Nadu and Jan Sena led by Pawan Kalyan from Andhra Pradesh, are expected to participate in the meeting. Additionally, representatives from various northeastern states and other parts of the country will be present.
This meeting marks the first major gathering of the NDA during the second term of the Modi government. It underscores the ruling party’s commitment to projecting itself as the leading coalition partner in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, which are anticipated to be held in April-May.
Regional parties, even those with a modest but influential vote share in specific regions or castes, can play a pivotal role in determining electoral outcomes in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
As the BJP strives to secure a majority for a third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha, party leadership has made pragmatic adjustments to accommodate new allies while also working to weaken the opposition alliance in critical states such as Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
On the other side, the Congress party has emphasized the significance of opposition unity, asserting that it will be a game-changer in Indian politics. Taking a swipe at the BJP, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that those who once spoke of defeating opposition parties alone are now attempting to revive the NDA, which had faded into obscurity.
Speaking at a press conference, Ramesh highlighted the sudden resurgence of the NDA and noted, “Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. There used to be no talk about the NDA, and suddenly in the past few days, we are hearing and reading about it. Suddenly, it was reported that an NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. So NDA, which had become a ghost, attempts are now being made to breathe new life into it.”
As the political landscape in India undergoes dynamic shifts, both the ruling alliance and the opposition are engaged in intense efforts to consolidate their positions and garner support ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.