Political parties meet updates | No party is big or small in NDA: PM Modi

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde asserted on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA will return to power in 2024 with a greater majority than before and the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP alliance will make a clean sweep in the state.

Interacting with reporters here, Mr. Shinde dismissed the opposition alliance as a coalition of frustrated political parties who only have hatred towards Mr. Modi.

“The more they criticise Modi, the more seats NDA will win. We saw this in 2014, we saw this in 2019 and we will again see it in 2024,” said Mr. Shinde, who attended the meeting of NDA constituents chaired by the prime minister.

Mr. Shinde said Mr. Modi’s work over the past nine years speaks for itself and has even been acknowledged the world over.

He said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has been strengthened in Maharashtra with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP joining the “double-engine” government led by the Shiv Sena and the BJP.

“The ruling alliance will win more than 45 seats (out of total 48 seats in Maharashtra) and even a clean sweep cannot be ruled out,” Mr. Shinde said. - PTI

“I can tell you with full confidence that NDA will come to power in 2024 as people know its chemistry and history,” PM Modi told allies.

He said, “NDA had about 38% vote share in 2014 and 45% in 2019, it will get over 50% of votes in 2024. You all know mood of nation is in NDA’s favour, global powers also believe people’s mandate is for our alliance. Indian economy moved from 10th place globally to 5th during NDA rule, I can assure you it will rank 3rd in our 3rd term.” - PTI

PM Modi said in the meeting that NDA was not formed in opposition to any party but to bring stability to country. “NDA’s ideology puts security of nation, progress, empowerment of people ahead of everything else. NDA is walking the path of social justice shown by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Ram Manohar Lohia.”

“In past nine years, NDA has worked for betterment of lives of poor and deprived. NDA unites people of country, opposition parties divide them. We are not only working for present, but also striving to make future better. We have thrown out middlemen who used to roam around in corridors of power before 2014,” he said.

“Politics can have rivalry, not enmity; but opposition abuses us and tries to run us down. NDA govt conferred Bharat Ratna on Pranab Mukherjee, Padma awards on Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Yadav, who were in opposition,” he said.

The PM said that people have made up their mind to give mandate to NDA for third consecutive term.

Mr. Modi said, “Opposition parties can come closer for political selfishness but they cannot come together. Opposition underestimates wisdom of common people, but public knows what is the glue of selfish gains that binds them. I can make mistakes but I will not do anything with ill-intention.” - PTI

“NDA is not coalition of compulsion, it symbolises contribution; everyone here gets credit and everyone contributes. In NDA, ‘N’ means New India, ‘D’ means Developed Nation, ‘A’ means Aspirations of people and regions,” Mr. Modi said at the alliance meet.

“No party is big or small in NDA, BJP got majority in 2014 and 2019 but NDA formed government. NDA always pursued positive politics even when in opposition, we never took help of foreign powers,” Mr. Modi said.

“NDA is beautiful rainbow of regional aspirations. NDA’s ideology puts security of nation, progress, empowerment of people ahead of everything else.”

PM Narendra Modi at the alliance meeting said that NDA is legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, who also played key role in shaping it.

“Leaders like Parkash Singh Badal, Balasaheb Thackeray, Ajit Singh, Sharad Yadav contributed in shaping NDA,” Mr. Modi said.

“India has long tradition of coalitions, but those formed with negativity have never succeeded. Congress used coalitions in 1990s to destablise country, it formed govts and pulled them down,” he said.

“Pre-2014 coalition govts somehow survived but country got policy paralysis and a high command above prime minister,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi said the coming together of NDA allies is a matter of “immense joy”.

He tweeted, “It is a matter of immense joy that our valued NDA partners from across India will be attending the meeting in Delhi today. Ours is a time-tested alliance which seeks to further national progress and fulfil regional aspirations.” Union minister Pralhad Joshi and BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde welcomed the leaders, from the BJP as well as allies, who arrived at the venue of the meeting.

This will be the first such meeting of the National Democratic Alliance during the second term of the Modi government.

It underscores the ruling party’s focus on highlighting its ability to make alliances at a time when opposition parties were coming together to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. - PTI

Leaders of 38 parties joined a meeting of the BJP-led NDA, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that the bloc is a time-tested alliance that seeks to further national progress and fulfil regional aspirations.

Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by BJP president J.P. Nadda, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK leader K. Palaniswami and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

The meeting coincides with the mega opposition conclave in Bengaluru and is seen as a show of strength by the ruling party. - PTI

A group of 26 opposition parties on Tuesday demanded the implementation of the caste census while asserting that they have come together to defeat the “hatred and violence being manufactured against minorities” as well as “rising crimes against women, Dalits, tribals and Kashmiri Pandits”.

In their ‘Samuhik Sankalp (joint resolution) released after the meeting, the parties expressed their steadfast resolve to safeguard the idea of India as enshrined in the Constitution.

“The character of our republic is being severely assaulted in a systematic manner by the BJP. We are at a most crucial juncture in our nation’s history. The foundational pillars of the Indian Constitution – secular democracy, economic sovereignty, social justice and federalism – are being methodically and menacingly undermined,” they alleged.

“We have come together to defeat the hatred and violence being manufactured against minorities; stop the rising crimes against women, Dalits, adivasis and Kashmiri Pandits; demand a fair hearing for all socially, educationally and economically backward communities; and, as a first step, implement the Caste Census,” the parties said in their resolution passed “in one voice” at the meeting.

- PTI

The opposition alliance that will take on the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has been named INDIA. Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the main opposition Congress party, said INDIA stood for ‘Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance’.

Read more here...

On the question of who would lead the alliance, Congress chief Kharge said: The upcoming meeting in Mumbai, where will we decide on the coordination committee, a convenor will also be appointed.

Unemployment is spreading, and prices are rising and this is what the fight is about, Mr. Gandhi says. The fight is a fight to defend the idea of India. As a group we are defending the Indian Constitution, defending the voice of Indian people, defending the idea of our great country, he says.

We have taken a decision to come up with an ‘action plan’ which will outline our vision for the country, Mr. Gandhi adds.

This is our second meeting, and we had a productive session today, says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The fight is against BJP’s ideology, they are attacking our country, he says.

Mr. Gandhi says the country’s wealth is going into the hands of few. “This fight is not between the Centre and Opposition. This is a fight for the voice of India, which is being suppressed, which is why we chose this name,” says Mr. Gandhi.

Nine years ago, Indians had voted for Narendra Modi, and he had the opportunity to serve the country. However, over these nine years, there is not one sector that can claim progress, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says.

Today these 26 parties have gathered with a dream for new India.

The Centre has only one job these days, to sell government and buy government, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says in Bengaluru. Speaking on the newly christened alliance called INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), she says: “Can you challenge INDIA?”

INDIA will win, our country will win, she adds.

2024 election, we will fight unitedly, and come out with great success, Congress chief Kharge says.

Though we have got some difference in different States, politically, we have kept that behind us, not in the front. The agenda in front of us is how to save the country and its people, says Kharge.

Today we are facing many issues, including the media which has been captured by Modi. Even earlier, in my 52 years of political lives, I have never seen such suppression, he adds.

11-member coordination committee will be set up. We will again meet in Mumbai, where we will decide on further issues, says Kharge.

Our alliance will be called INDIA (Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance), says Kharge

Acknowledging the presence of various opposition leaders gatehred in Bengaluru, Congress chief Kharge said, “Leaders of 26 parties were present. This is a very important meeting to save the democracy and the constitution.”

The opposition alliance is likely to be named INDIA (Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance), sources told PTI on Tuesday, adding that most leaders agree on it though there is no final decision yet.

Ahead of the National Democratic Alliance meeting in New Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party took potshots at the BJP, alleging that the ruling party’s coalition partners have been brought together by the Enforcement Directorate.

Taking a swipe at the NDA, AAP Rajya Sabha member and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha tweeted, “Thirty-eight party NDA. Brought to you by ED.” The NDA meeting comes on a day when a crucial meeting of 26 opposition parties, including Congress, JD (U), AAP, TMC, NCP, SP and DMK, was underway in Bengaluru to formulate a joint strategy to defeat the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

- PTI

Several opposition leaders hit out at the BJP on Tuesday, saying their meeting here is aimed at saving the country, democracy and the Constitution.

TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the meeting will be a constructive one. “Its outcome will be good for the country,” she was seen saying in a video released by the Congress.

The Congress also released videos of other opposition leaders.

“PM Modi made a complete mess of almost every sector in his 10-year rule. Time to get rid of him,” said Arvind Kejriwal on the opposition meeting.

-PTI

1. Indian National Congress - The Congress is the largest party in the opposition bloc with 80 MPs (49 in Lok Sabha and 31 in Rajya Sabha). It is in power on its own in four States -- Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh -- and is part of the ruling dispensations in Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand.
2. All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) - The Mamata Banerjee-led party is in power in West Bengal and has 35 MPs (23 Lok Sabha and 12 Rajya Sabha). It also has legislators in a few other States, including Meghalaya.
3. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) - Led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, it has influence in Tamil Nadu and in Puducherry. It has 34 MPs (24 in the Lok Sabha and 10 in the Rajya Sabha).
4. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) - The Arvind Kejriwal-led party is in power in Delhi and Punjab and has 11 MPs (one in Lok Sabha and 10 in Rajya Sabha). The party has been blowing hot and cold about its relationship with the Congress, particularly at the national level.
5. Janata Dal (United) - Led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who hosted the first opposition meeting in Patna, the party officially has 21 MPs (16 Lok Sabha and five Rajya Sabha). Its effective strength could vary since Kumar snapped ties with the BJP last year and joined hands with the RJD and the Congress to stay in power in Bihar.
6. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) - The party led by Lalu Prasad is part of the government in Bihar with his son Tejashwi Yadav as the deputy chief minister. It has six MPs -- all in Rajya Sabha.
7. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) - The party of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren leads a coalition government in the state. It has three MPs (one in Lok Sabha and two in Rajya Sabha).
8. Nationalist Congress Party ( NCP) – Sharad Pawar Group Founded by Sharad Pawar, NCP has suffered a split since meeting of opposition parties in Patna. The faction led by Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar has joined the Maharashtra government of the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The Sharad Pawar faction is currently part of the opposition in the State along with Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT).
9. Shiv Sena ( UBT) - The Shiv Sena, founded by Balasaheb Thackeray, split in June last year with a large chunk of MLAs led by Eknath Shinde joining hands with the BJP. After the 2019 Maharashtra polls, the Shiv Sena, then led by Uddhav Thackeray, had severed its ties with the BJP and joined hands with the NCP and the Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
10. Samajwadi Party ( SP) - The Samajwadi Party, led by former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, is the main opposition party in Uttar Pradesh, a state which sends the maximum members to Lok Sabha. It currently has three Lok Sabha and three Rajya Sabha MPs.
11. Rashtriya Lok Dal ( RLD) - The RLD, which primarily derives its support from western Uttar Pradesh, is led by Jayant Chaudhary, the son of party founder Ajit Singh and grandson of former prime minister Charan Singh. Jayant Chaudhary is the party’s sole MP (Rajya Sabha).
12. Apna Dal ( Kamerawadi) - It is the Apna Dal faction led by party founder Sonelal Patel’s wife Krishna Patel and daughter Pallavi Patel. The Kamerawadi faction is aligned with the Samajwadi Party, while the Apna Dal (Sonelal) led by Union minister Anupriya Patel is part of the BJP-led NDA.
13. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference ( NC) - Led by former chief minister Farooq Abdullah is among the key forces in Jammu and Kashmir. It currently has three Lok Sabha members.
14. Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) - Another key player in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP is led by former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti. It currently does not have any representation in Lok Sabha.
15. Communist Party of India ( Marxist) - The CPI(M), the principal party in the Left bloc, leads the LDF government in Kerala. It also has some influence in a few other States, including West Bengal, Tripura and Tamil Nadu. It has eight MPs (three in Lok Sabha and five in Rajya Sabha).
16. Communist Party of India ( CPI) - The CPI is part of the ruling LDF in Kerala. It has two Lok Sabha members and two Rajya Sabha members.
17. Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation - The CPI-ML (Liberation) is part of the ruling coalition in Bihar. Headed by Dipankar Bhattacharya, the party has 12 MLAs in the State.
18. Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) - A part of the Left bloc, RSP has one Lok Sabha member, from Kerala. It has some support base in a few other States, including West Bengal and Tripura.
19. All India Forward Bloc - Founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the party is now a smaller constituent of the Left bloc. It currently does not have any representation in Parliament or any state assembly. The party does have some support in States once dominated by Left parties.
20. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) - The MDMK, led by Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko, is a part of the DMK-led coalition in Tamil Nadu. It has a support base in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
21. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) - Led by Thol. Thirumaavalavan, VCK is part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. Thirumaavalavan is its Lok Sabha MP.
22. Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (KMDK) - The KMDK, led by businessman-turned-politician E R Eswaran, is part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. It enjoys some support in western Tamil Nadu. The party has a member in Lok Sabha – A K P Chinraj – but he won on the DMK symbol.
23. Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) - The MMK is led by M H Jawahirullah and is part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. Jawahirullah is currently an MLA and also serves as a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).
24. Indian Union Muslim League ( IUML) - The IUML, which is mainly based in Kerala, has been a long-time ally of the Congress. It has three members in Lok Sabha and one in Rajya Sabha.
25. Kerala Congress ( M) - The party, based in Kerala, has one Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha members. It contested the 2021 assembly polls in the state as part of the CPI(M)-led LDF.
26. Kerala Congress ( Joseph) - Based in Kerala, the party it was part of the Congress-led UDF, which is the main challenger to the CPI(M)-led LDF in the Kerala in the last Assembly polls.

The Congress is not interested in power or the post of Prime Minister, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said as leaders of 26 Opposition parties got together here to discuss strategy ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In his inaugural address on the second day of the key Opposition meeting, he said, “Our intention in this meeting is not to gain power for ourselves. It is to protect our Constitution, democracy, secularism and social justice”.

He admitted to differences among opposition parties at the state level but noted that these are not ideological.

“These differences are not so big that we cannot put them behind us for the sake of the common man and middle class which is suffering due to inflation, for the sake of our youth who are suffering from unemployment, for the sake of the poor, Dalits, adivasis and the minorities whose rights are being crushed silently behind the scenes,” the Congress chief said.

He said 26 parties are here together, and in government in 11 states today.

“The BJP did not get 303 seats by itself. It used the votes of its allies and came to power and then discarded them. Today, the BJP president and its leaders are running from state to state to patch up with their old allies,” he said.

- PTI

LJP (Ramvilas) president Chirag Paswan on Tuesday said he will formally join the NDA soon. “We will contest the next Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the BJP,” he said.

Earlier, Mr. Paswan hit out at Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for his pulling out of the NDA alliance in Bihar. “We have fought three successful elections, 2014 Lok Sabha polls, 2015 Bihar Assembly polls and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In 2014, we joined the NDA only after the JD(U) and Bihar CM Nitish Kunar had left the alliance in 2013. We would never like to be in an alliance where Mr. Kumar is present,” Mr. Paswan said.

Mr. Paswan further allged that the Bihar CM had tried his best to defeat him in Jamui Lok Sabha seats. “In fact, he tried to defeat many of our candidate. We decided to walk out of NDA because of Mr. Kumar’s behaviour. We didn’t join any other alliance. We stayed alone. And it is for everyone to see our performance. Even though we weren’t part of any alliance, we managed to electorally hurt JD(U)“ Mr. Paswan said.

JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of introducing an “IAS bonded labour policy” in the State by deputing 30 IAS officers to “serve” its alliance leaders, meeting in the city to strategise for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The former Chief Minister said IAS officers are symbols of State’s ability and efficiency, and deputing these officials as “door keepers” to serve politicians is in clear violation of All India Services (Conduct ) Rules.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress chief, maintained that due protocol for state guests has been followed. -PTI

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has arrived at the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru.

Mr. Pawar did not participate on the first day of the two-day joint opposition meeting.

Posters blaming Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the Sultanganj bridge collapse in his State surfaced at a key traffic junction ahead of the Opposition parties meet here on Tuesday.

Police swung into action soon after learning about the posters put up at ‘Chalukya Circle’, just a stone’s throw from the venue of the meeting which is being attended by Nitish Kumar.

One of the posters read: “Welcome to Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Government of Bihar. Sultanganj Bridge, Nitish Kumar’s gift to Bihar that keeps collapsing. While bridges in Bihar cannot withstand his reign, count on him to lead the ‘Opposition Party’ campaign.” Another poster said: “The unstable Prime Ministerial contender. Bangalore rolls out the Red Carpet for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. First date of Sultanganj bridge collapse - April 2022. Second date of Sultanganj bridge collapse - June 2023.” Police have started investigation to find out who had put up these posters. - PTI

The BJP is eying a grand show of strength of its alliance on Tuesday with party president J P Nadda asserting that 38 constituents of the ruling NDA have confirmed their participation in the meeting where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be present.

This will be the first such meeting of the BJP-led NDA during the second term of the Modi government and underscores the party’s focus on highlighting its ability to make alliances at a time when opposition parties have been meeting to forge unity in the run-up to 2024 Lok Sabha polls. -PTI

West Bengal BJP MLA and general secretary Agnimitra Paul came down heavily on the CPM and the Congress party for sharing the stage with Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee at the much anticipated second opposition unity meeting in Bengaluru.

Agnimitra Paul alleged that parties like Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress do not have any ideology. She said that while they are opposing one another in West Bengal or in Kerala, they are having dinner together in Bengaluru. -ANI

Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) president Ajay Singh Chautala and one more party member will attend the NDA meeting to be held in Delhi on Tuesday, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said here.

Speaking to reporters here, the deputy chief minister said good coordination among alliance partners is necessary ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections. -PTI

Taking the next step towards constructing a more cohesive alliance, the Opposition parties are aiming to set up a common secretariat drawing representatives from each party, which will act as the strategic nerve centre to guide their campaign against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. A formal name for the alliance is also likely to be announced after Tuesday’s meeting in Bengaluru.

It is learnt that the Opposition parties in the meeting will come up with sub-committees for various subjects, including one for communication, another for deciding and coordinating joint action programmes such as rallies and agitation.

Read more:Opposition to come up with name for alliance and common secretariat on Tuesday

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has decided to return to the NDA, BJP chief J P Nadda announced on Monday (July 17), hours after Mr. Paswan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a day before the crucial meeting of the ruling coalition.

“I met Chirag Paswanji in Delhi. He has decided to join the NDA alliance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. I welcome him to the NDA family,” Mr. Nadda said on Twitter and posted photographs of his meeting with Mr. Paswan.

Read more:Chirag Paswan meets Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda; returns to NDA

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy will be attending a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

National president of the Bharatiya Janata Party J.P. Nadda has invited Mr. Rangasamy’s All India N. R Congress (AINRC), a constituent of NDA, for the meeting, said a source in AINRC.

Read more:Puducherry CM Rangasamy to attend NDA meeting in New Delhi on July 18

The BJP’s invitation to Jana Sena Party (JSP) president Pawan Kalyan to participate in the NDA meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi on July 18 brought into sharp focus the evolving political scenario in Andhra Pradesh vis-a-vis his dissatisfaction with the manner in which the BJP-JSP alliance struggled to make a significant headway against the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the possibility of JSP teaming up with the TDP, which neither party has dismissed so far.

Read more:Invitation to Pawan Kalyan for NDA meet in Delhi hogs political limelight in Andhra Pradesh

The NDA’s big get together on July 18 in New Delhi, on the same day as an opposition meet in Bengaluru, will have the participation of 38 political parties, an event, BJP president J P Nadda said that was underpinned with nationalist ideology, in contrast to the opposition, which he termed as “hollow, based on selfishness, with neither leader nor good intentions.”

Addressing a presser at the BJP’s headquarters in New Delhi, Mr Nadda said, that the NDA “will resolve that the country will again elect its government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. The country has decided that.” The aim of consolidation, in the face of the Opposition’s moves to do the same very clearly stated.

“The NDA is underpinned by the ideology of national interest and people’s welfare by taking along all sections of society,” said Mr Nadda, adding that it was in contrast to the opposition which “has been cobbled together with a selfish motive to protect these leaders from cases of corruption of more than ₹20 lakh crore during the UPA government,” he said. “This is just a good photo opportunity,” he added.

Read more:NDA gathers 38 parties for big splash on Tuesday, Nadda terms opposition gathering as “selfish and hollow”