NDA’s Patna meet today to deepen ties with allies

The meeting of the National Democratic Alliance constituents in Bihar on Thursday, the first since Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled his JDU out of the mahagathbandhan or grand alliance to return to the NDA in July last year, is being seen as more than a show of unity in the ruling coalition.

The meeting being organised in Patna by the BJP’s state unit, which will bring together the BJP, JDU, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), will provide an opportunity to the four partners to develop better coordination among their district level leaders ahead of the 2019 general election, according to people aware of the matter.

BJP has requested its allies to invite the presidents of their district units at the event, said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified. Union ministers from Bihar, top leaders of all four allies, MLAs, MLCs and functionaries of the parties will attend the meeting.


“This is just a celebration of four years' achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji by Bihar NDA,” BJP’s Bihar unit president Nitya Nand Rai told ET.

A JDU member, who did not wish to be identified, however said, “Since top leaders of all the four allies of NDA would be present at the function, there is high chance of a discussion over their preparation for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls battle. Such gatherings will be organised more frequently in the coming months given the short time left for preparation for the general election.” The JDU’s Bihar unit chief and Rajya Sabha member Basistha Narayan Singh said his party will host an iftar party on June 13 where members of all four NDA partners will be invited. “This is a routine affair,” he said.

The JDU was not part of the NDA in the 2014 general election, in which the BJP, LJP and RLSP bagged 22, six and three seats respectively.

The JDU had then fought the election as a member of the grand alliance with the RJD and Congress.