Omkar Dattatray
It is not for nothing that the innovative brain and dynamic leadership of the prime minister Narendra Modi had embarked on broad basing of the NDA so as to effectively fight the crucial Lok Sabha polls in 2024 and to defeat the united conglomerate of opposition leaders called INDIA.As many as 38 political outfits ,big ,small ,national and regional are now the part of NDA and it is most likely to once again retain power at the centre the third consecutive time and will make the head trick and all the plans and dreams of the opposition front will fell flat .Thus has the NDA been broad based with the inclusion of several more parties to give it the form and shape of a broad based party so that it will be in a position to fight and defeat the united opposition .The fact is that the purpose of broad basing the NDA is to give the party a representative character so that it will be truly democratic in character and at the same time will be in a position to fight and win the 2024 general elections.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA ) is a centre-right to right wing conservative Indian political alliance led by right wing BJP .it was founded in 1998 and currently controls the government of India as well as the government of 15 Indian states and one Union Territory .As of July 2023 ,there are now 40 political parties that are the members of the alliance .The BJP and National People’s party are the two recognized national parties by the election commission and other parties are of state or regional character .The BJP –led National Democratic Alliance held a mega meeting in Delhi on Tuesday July 18,in a major show of strength in the run –up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections .With the opposition putting up a united front ,the National Democratic Alliance held a mega meeting on July 18,where leaders of 38 parties came to Delhi to solidify the alliance. Speaking at the event ,PM Narendra Modi said the, ’’NDA’s vote share will be above 50% because of its allies who are working hard. ’
’Let me take a look at the parties who attended the meeting and will form an integral part of NDA for the upcoming 2024 elections .The parties which are now the part of NDA are—BJP,Shiv Sena (Eknath Faction),NCP(Ajit Pawar faction),RLJP(Pashupati Pars-led ),Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan) ,AIADMK,Apna Dal(Soneylal),NPP, NDPP ,Naga people’s front (NPF),All Jharkhand students union(AJSU),Sikkim Krantikari Morcha(SKM),Mizo National Front(MNF),Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura(IFPT).,Republican Party of India (Athawale) ,Asom Gana Praishad(AGP),PMK,Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC),United People’s Party Liberal(UPPL),Suheldav Bharartiya Samaj Party (SBSP),SAD ,Maharashtra Gomantak Party(MGP),Jannayak Janta Party(JJP),Prahar Janshakti Party (PJP),Rashtriya Samaj Paksha(RSPS),Jan Surajya Shakti Party(JSS),GNLF,Puthiya Tamilagam(PT),Kerela Kamaraj Congress ,Bharath Dharma Jana Seva(BDJS),Haryana Lokhit Party,Jana Sena Party(JSP),Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM),All india NR Congress (AINRC),Nishad Party,Hill state People’s Democratic Party(HSPDP),United Democratic Party (Meghalaya),Kuki People’s Alliance(KPA). NDA has been broad based and it now includes Chirag Paswan and Omprakesh Rajbahar .Taking a swipe at the opposition alliance ,PM Narendra Modi addressed a meeting of 38 parties on Tuesday and said, ’’Although India has a long tradition of coalitions, those formed with negativity have never succeeded.’ ’He added that coalition based on the’ ’Compulsion of power ’’’’,Corruption’ ’and ‘’dynastic Politics ‘’is harmful to the country.
PM went on to add ,’’No party is big or small in NDA ,BJP got majority in 2014 and 2019 but NDA formed the government .’’Modi called the alliance a legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K.Advani and thanked leaders like Prakash Singh Badal ,Balasaheb Thackeray ,Ajit Singh and Sharad Yadav for contributing to shaping NDA .Leaders from 38 parties including Eaknath Shinde,K Palaniswami, Ramdas Athavale and Chirag Paswan attended the meeting of NDA among other leaders.Seeking to contrast the NDA with the opposition alliance ,Modi said ,while the NDA is a ‘’Coalition of contributions and strength ‘’the latter is an alliance of ‘’compulsions’’, where’’ the glue that binds them together is compromise with the principles and values .
’’He said the Opposition alliance was built on negativity and contradictions .The BJP and NDA partners on Tuesday hit out at the opposition parties ,saying giving a new name to their alliance will not change their character and 2024 Lok Sabha battle is going to be ‘’Bharat Mata versus INDIA.’’BJP IT department head by Amit Malviya said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) of the opposition parties had to kill its existence and acquire a new identity even those who are part of this new alliance haven’t changed.NDA was founded in 1998 ,25 years later ,on a day ,an expanded ,stronger ,NDA is meeting .RLJD founder and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha said in a tweet .’’It will now be Bharat Mata versus INDIA ,’’He described the opposition’s INDIA grouping as an alliance of those who fill their pockets with the hard earned money of the people and’ ’Suck poor people’s blood.
’’The Indian economy moved from 10th place globally to 5th during NDA rule ,I can assure you it will rank third in our 3rd term ,Modi said after the NDA allies meeting .He further said ‘’NDA’s ideology puts security of nation ,progress ,empowerment of people ahead of everything else .’’With 38 parties joining NDA meeting PM Modi said on Tuesday their coming together is a matter of immense joy and described the bloc as a time tested alliance .Omprakash Rajbhar chief of Suleldev Bharitya Samaj Party attended the crucial NDA meeting and said,’ ’He joined the NDA and will fight 2024 Lok Sabha elections as a part of the alliance .Maharashtra CM Eaknath Sinde and Shiv Sena leader took part in the NDA meeting and with the new entrants the NDA has broad based and expanded to meet the challenges posed by the opposition unity.
LJP (Ram Vilas ) joins NDA ,Chirag Paswan confident of winning all 40 LS seats in Bihar .’’I officially announce Lok Janshakti Party(Ram Vilas ) is now a strong arm of NDA .We will win 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar and NDA minus Nitesh Kumar will form next government in Bihar’’ .said LJP(Ram Vilas ) chief Chirag Paswan after returning to NDA fold. In brief NDA has now expanded ,broad based this alliance by joining of 38 political parties in it .Thus has the NDA expanded and broad based to fight the 2024 general elections.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)
