The BJP’s mega gathering of 38 parties started this evening just as the united opposition meet ended with a declaration of its name — I.N.D.I.A — with Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting and greeting the allies. “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,” he had tweeted earlier today.
This is the first such meeting of the National Democratic Alliance ahead of next year’s general elections — a fact the opposition has been taking digs at since then meeting was announced a few days ago.
Though most of the 38 are smaller allies with pockets of influence and a few or no MPs, the figure far outstrips the 26-party tally announced earlier by the Congress — a psychological advantage the ruling party hopes to deploy in the run-up to next year’s general elections.
