Better Coordination, More Representation for Smaller Parties: What Was Discussed at 'Informal' NDA Meet

A meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders took place at the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda Friday afternoon.

Several members of the BJP-led coalition came to the meeting at short notice with Nadda.

Sources say that several important issues were discussed concerning the alliance that has come together to form a government at the Centre for the third time in a row. However, unlike 2014 and 2019, this time the BJP has not been able to get an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha elections, and therefore the role of the alliance partners assumes a lot more importance.

Nadda told allies that he was not able to give them enough time before calling for an informal meet like this, but it was important since no NDA meeting was possible during the last monsoon session of Parliament.

The alliance partners discussed the need for better coordination and cooperation among themselves. Everyone agreed that the entire government needs to speak in one voice. Sources earlier said that the NDA was going to announce a list of spokespersons before the monsoon session of Parliament, but that is still pending.

There were also discussions on the performance of parties and the alliance, especially in the northeast states, during the April-June Lok Sabha polls as the BJP and its partners were not able to win seats in the region beyond Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura.

Some smaller parties, including those with single lawmakers, also urged the BJP to allow them better involvement and give them a platform to raise their voices, especially in meetings like the business advisory committee, etc.

Allies present were told that the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party camps could not send representatives to the meeting, given their busy schedule ahead of upcoming elections in Maharashtra.

NDA partners have decided to have regular meetings so camaraderie can be further established between everyone.

The BJP bagged 240 Lok Sabha seats in the recent elections, out of the NDA’s 292. Other key members are the Telugu Desam Party with 16 MPs and Janata Dal (United) with 12.