India's ruling NDA alliance is set to hold its first talks in Delhi on Tuesday in light of the upcoming national election.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the leading party within the NDA, has confirmed the presence of 38 political parties at the talks, while adding that “there are some who had earlier left the NDA but now rejoined the alliance to strengthen India, and the party remains committed to its ideology."
The meeting will see several new BJP allies participate for the first time, including the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra state chief Eknath Shinde and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Ajit Pawar, as well as many of the alliance's former partners, such as Chirag Paswan, O.P. Rajbhar, Upendra Kushwaha and Jitan Ram Manjhi, who have decided to return to the fold.
BJP president J.P. Nadda has called the coalition ideal to “serve” and “strengthen” the country. He said the NDA’s expansion is “the positive impact of the Narendra Modi government’s schemes and policies”.
Opposition Bloc Meet Too
Meanwhile, on Monday and Tuesday, 26 like-minded opposition parties are making a huddle for the second time within a month. They aim to discuss strategies for the upcoming state assembly polls and national elections. The talks include chalking out a strategy for rallies, issues, deciding on seat-sharing, and setting a name for the alliance.
On Monday, opposition leaders held a dinner hosted by Karnataka state chief Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru city. Reiterating the opposition’s slogan ‘United We Stand,' Congress Party leader Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted, “Like-minded opposition parties shall closely work together to foster an agenda of social justice, inclusive development and national welfare.”