What happened at NDA meet: Calls for synergy & WhatsApp group, praise for PM but ‘no road map’

Jana Sena advocated bringing TDP into NDA fold to fight YSRCP for Andhra’s ‘stability’. Akali Dal (Sanjyukt) urged govt to do more to ‘restore confidence’ of Sikh community.

New Delhi: While criticising the opposition alliance as one borne out of “compulsion”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday presented the 25-year-old NDA as a symbol of “coalition and contribution” that was formed with a common agenda and to fulfil “a rainbow of regional aspirations”.

The PM was addressing a meeting in Delhi of the 38 political parties that make up the NDA.

However, many of them — some of whom were participating in an NDA event for the first time in five years — suggested that the prime minister enhance synergy and cohesiveness within the alliance. Some members pointed out the lack of a proper communication channel within the NDA which can lead to confusion on various issues. They also stressed the need to streamline communication and promote regular interaction to make the NDA a more productive alliance.

During the meeting, most parties expressed their faith in the PM’s leadership, praised the work done by the BJP government in the past nine years, and stated that they would contest the 2024 polls under Modi’s leadership.

However, many regional parties also highlighted their own agenda and sought the cooperation of the central government to fulfill these. For instance, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) raised the issue of a trust deficit towards the NDA among Sikhs that needs to be addressed.

Having returned to the NDA fold just the day before, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan touched Modi’s feet and received a warm hug in return. His return, he has said, was aided by “positive discussion” with the BJP regarding his “concerns”.

During the meeting, Paswan lauded the PM for being a role model for India’s youth. “When the US president and French president give accolades to the PM, youth in villages applaud and see him as a role model,” he said.

He also recommended creating a WhatsApp group comprising spokespersons from all 38 parties where daily updates about the government’s activities and accomplishments can be shared. This idea received support from many parties.

Paswan also suggested creating short videos highlighting the daily achievements of the government which could be easily shared among alliance partners.

Adding that the central government schemes have transformed life in villages, Paswan asserted that the NDA combine will win all 40 seats in Bihar in 2024.

Speaking to ThePrint, an NDA leader, however, said: “The whole exercise was for optics.”

“It was meant as a counter to the opposition unity and to send a message of NDA unity. Every leader was only there to praise the prime minister. The entire exercise was done to get appreciation and as a photo opportunity. No political strategy was talked about, nothing serious was discussed. Only speeches were made. The PM met all the leaders individually and the meeting ended without a future roadmap,” he added.

What party leaders said  ?

Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD) chief Upendra Kushwaha, too, spoke about how several schemes of the central government, particularly the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, has changed lives in rural areas.

Bihar Sudesh Mahto of the All Jharkhand Students Union, who backed Paswan’s suggestion of a WhatsApp group, said, “We don’t have a system in place to know what the viewpoint of the BJP is on many issues and what line should be taken. If we have a common group of spokespersons, our communication can be more effective. Such synergy is needed.”

Speaking to ThePrint, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leaders Jitan Ram Manjhi and Santosh Suman Manjhi said that they proposed a regular gathering of NDA leaders and appointing a point person who can be approached for guidance whenever needed. Furthermore, there were discussions about convening another meeting of NDA leaders after the parliamentary session to focus on strategy formulation, they added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, too, praised Modi’s leadership and highlighted how India’s position and glory have been enhanced over the past nine years.

Shinde also emphasised that the NDA was originally formed under the leadership of BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. Shinde’s comment comes at a time when the Shiv Sena faction led by him and the one led by Uddhav Thackeray are vying to claim Balasaheb’s political legacy.

Omprakash Babarao Kadu of the Prahar Janshakti Party (PJP), an NDA partner from Maharashtra, raised the issue of a separate ministry for the differently-abled and to extend MGNREGA to marginal farmers dependent on rain.

Another Maharashtra NDA partner Jan Surajya Shakti’s Vinay Kore commended the central government for its effective handling of the Covid pandemic and its efficient management of supply chain during the Ukraine crisis, particularly concerning oil supplies. He also, however, highlighted the growing disparities between rural and urban India, adding that schemes should be introduced to alleviate rural distress.

“Although most of the alliance partners appreciated work done by the Modi government, our focus was on highlighting the issue of growing inequalities between rural and urban India, and the issue of migration due to a lack of hospitals and infrastructure in rural parts,” said Kore.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief K. Palaniswami, who was seated next to the PM, said, “The country, under Modi’s leadership, has achieved global recognition. I believe the NDA will get 350 seats in the 2024 polls.”

Several regional parties presented the regional challenges they face at the meeting.

Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan advocated bringing the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) into the NDA fold to fight against the YSRCP, which, he said, is unlikely to join the NDA. The N. Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP had left the NDA before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“Andhra Pradesh needs stability and it can be done only through BJP, Jana Sena and TDP alliance,” he said.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt)’s Dhindsa raised concerns about the Sikh community and urged the center to do more to restore their confidence.

Speaking to ThePrint, he said, “I told the prime minister that the Centre has done many things but still there are wounds of farm agitation. More needs to be done to get the confidence of the Sikhs back. There is the issue of the Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners). The Centre could release them. This will create goodwill. There is also a need for relief packages for farmers whose crops were destroyed in the recent floods.”

Gorkha National Liberation Front President Mann Ghising brought up the need for settlement of the Gorkhaland issue.

Despite some smaller parties in the NDA not having elected representatives at the meeting, PM Modi reassured them that the BJP would treat all NDA partners as equal and valued allies. “No party is big or small in NDA. BJP got majority in 2014 and 2019 but NDA formed a government,” he said.

Regarding suggestions for better synergy within the alliance, Modi advised the BJP president J.P. Nadda to establish a system to keep NDA partners in the loop and ensure effective communication with them.