INDIA declares war on BJP

(From left) SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, DMK’s TR Baalu and M K Stalin, Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, NC’s Omar Abdullah at the meet, in Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

The 26 Opposition parties that will take on the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be called Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced on Tuesday after the meeting in Bengaluru. Kharge also attacked PM Narendra Modi, saying he is now trying to bring together parties that had splintered, which shows that "he is afraid of opposition parties".

To protect Constitution

In their 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 said.

Fight against hatred

"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," they added.

The parties resolved to fight what they claimed was the systemic conspiracy by the BJP to "target, persecute and suppress our fellow Indians". "We pledge to present to the nation an alternative political, social and economic agenda. We promise to transform both the substance and style of governance that will be more consultative, democratic and participative."

The plan ahead

>> 11-member coordi-nation committee will be set up and its composition will be finalised in the next meeting in Mumbai
>> Common secretariat will be set up for campaign management in Delhi
>> Specific committees will be formed for separate issues

‘38-party NDA, courtesy of ED'

Ahead of the National Democratic Alliance meeting here, the AAP took potshots at the BJP on Tuesday, saying that the ruling party's 38 coalition partners have been brought together by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). AAP's Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha tweeted, "Thirty-eight party NDA. Brought to you by ED."

PM Narendra Modi hugs LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, in New Delhi, Tuesday. Pic/PTI

Later in the evening, 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.

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.

Earlier in the day, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan said his party has joined the ND following a positive discussion with the BJP over his "concerns" and asserted that they will win all 40 seats in Bihar in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

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