Better Coordination, More Representation for Smaller Parties: What Was Discussed at 'Informal' NDA Meet
News 18A meeting of National Democratic Alliance leaders took place at the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda Friday afternoon. Nadda told allies that he was not able to give them enough time before calling for an informal meet like this, but it was important since no NDA meeting was possible during the last monsoon session of Parliament. There were also discussions on the performance of parties and the alliance, especially in the northeast states, during the April-June Lok Sabha polls as the BJP and its partners were not able to win seats in the region beyond Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura. Some smaller parties, including those with single lawmakers, also urged the BJP to allow them better involvement and give them a platform to raise their voices, especially in meetings like the business advisory committee, etc. Allies present were told that the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party camps could not send representatives to the meeting, given their busy schedule ahead of upcoming elections in Maharashtra.