Amit Shah's Ambedkar remark row: NDA camp talks coordination as Opposition unleashes nation-wide campaign

After an acrimonious end to Parliament’s winter session, the top BJP leadership on Wednesday met NDA constituents in Delhi to iterate upon the need for better coordination between alliance partners as the Opposition plans a nationwide campaign targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his comments on Ambedkar.

The discussion in the meeting, held on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday, also revolved around good governance and effective administration by NDA governments in states and the Centre.

Held at BJP president JP Nadda’s residence in Delhi, the meeting was attended by Amit Shah and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandra Babu Naidu.

Sources say Shah briefed the allies on the political situation, especially attempts by Congress to revive the social justice narrative around Ambedkar and the caste census.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde did not attend the meeting. Janata Dal (U) and Shiv Sena were represented by their nominees, Union Ministers Lalan Singh and Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav.

Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, Apna Dal’s Anupriya Patel, Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM and Sanjay Nishad of Nishad Party also participated in the discussions.

In the interim between the Winter and the Budget sessions starting in early February, NDA MPs would be participating in two Joint Parliamentary Committees on the Waqf and One Nation-One Election Bill.

While the I.N.D.I.A bloc members are opposed to both laws, the BJP can get the Waqf Bill passed with support from the allies. However, for the ONOE, the government may have to seek a broader consensus as the passage of the Bill needs a two-thirds majority.

The NDA meeting comes a day ahead of Congress’ extended CWC at Belagavi. The Congress has announced the Belagavi CWC will deliberate upon the party’s action plan for 2025 and Ambedkar row.