New Delhi: The BJP isn’t taking the Opposition’s unity plans lightly.
Even as Congress announced that 26 parties are attending the two-day meeting in Bengaluru to forge an anti-BJP alliance ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party asserted that it will bring together many more parties under the NDA fold.
Taking the Congress-hosted Opposition meet head-on, BJP will organise a mega show of strength in Delhi and will be attended by 38 parties, JP Nadda announced on Monday.
Most of these 38 parties are smaller allies with pockets of influence and a few or no MPs, reported NDTV.
But the ruling party sought to underline a psychological advantage as the figure is at least a dozen more than that of the Opposition.
Nadda said the NDA’s reach and scope has increased over the years.
“The growing desire of the people to push the agenda of development has led to the expansion of the NDA… Good governance given in the last nine years under the leadership of Modi ji… It is a continuous process,” the BJP chief told reporters.
Nadda announced later this evening that Chirag Paswan, leader of the key faction of Lok Janashakti Party, will join the NDA.
“Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has decided to join NDA. I welcome him to the NDA family,” Nadda said.
Three more parties from Bihar — Upendra Singh Kushwaha of Rashtriya Lok Samta Party and Mukesh Sahani of Vikassheel Insaan Party, and Jitan Ram Manjhi of Hindustani Awam Morcha — are expected to join the NDA.
Seven parties in the north-eastern states — National People’s Party Meghalaya, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Mizo National Front, ITFT (Tripura), (Bodo People’s party and Asom Gana Parishad — are on the NDA list.
In Uttar Pradesh, where the party is already very strong, BJP has added one more ally — Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party of Om Prakash Rajbhar.
AIADMK and Tamil Manila Congress in Tamil Nadu, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawar faction of NCP in Maharashtra will also add to NDA’s muscle.
