NDA allies vow to put united front in 2019

At a time when the Opposition is struggling to put a united front to contain the saffron surge, the NDA on Monday passed a resolution to work together in 2019.

Briefing reporters in the midst of the late evening meeting held a month ahead of the NDA government’s third anniversary, TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was effusive in his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Naidu described him as the first non-Congress prime minister to have got such a huge mandate in 2014 and referred to the sweeping mandate in the just-concluded Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls to insist that “people have reinforced their faith” in him.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave a recap of what transpired at the meeting, which included a resolution being passed by the NDA allies showing their determination to work together to succeed in 2019 under the leadership of Modi.

Sharing highlights of the resolution, Jaitley said accomplishments in the recent polls point out that the “popularity of the NDA continues to strengthen with every election”. The NDA’s partners also hailed the “decisive and bold leadership” of Modi, he said.

The meeting began with BJP president Amit Shah’s speech followed by leaders of different parties presenting their points of view. Senior partner leaders like Parkash Singh Badal of the Akali Dal, Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena and TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu were the first to share their views on the NDA’s achievements and its future challenges.

This is the second NDA meeting since 2014 and was aimed at smoothing the rough edges in the coalition, even as Modi enters the second half of his five-year tenure.