Shiromani Akali Dal To Be Back In NDA Fold Ahead Of Lok Sabha Polls? Here's What Amit Shah Said
Union Home Minister Amit Shah predicted the BJP will win 370 seats while the NDA will get more than 400 seats out of 543 in the elections, during the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2024.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) stance on alliance-building on Saturday as he said, "The BJP does not believe in family planning in politics and always welcomes new allies". Shah also mentioned that talks were on with the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Shah also stressed that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be implemented ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. He predicted the BJP will win 370 seats while the NDA will get more than 400 seats out of 543 in the elections. Shah's remarks came during the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2024, reported news agency PTI.
When asked about the RLD, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and other regional parties joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Shah emphasised the BJP's steadfast commitment to expanding its alliances, stating, "We believe in family planning (in general) but not in politics." He emphasised the party's receptiveness to welcoming new allies, reiterating its longstanding ideology since the days of the Jan Sangh, as per PTI.
"We always want that our alliance grows and we always welcome new allies. Those who like to join us can come," Shah remarked.
Amid speculation about the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) potential re-entry into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Shah said, "Talks are going on but nothing has been finalised". The SAD had withdrawn from the NDA in September 2020 over the now-scrapped three farm laws, as per PTI.
On the possibility of joining hands with the TDP, which left the NDA in 2018, or the YSR Congress, Shah suggested that developments would unfold in due time, leaving room for speculation about potential future collaborations.
Shah also projected confidence in the BJP's electoral prospects, predicting a sweeping victory in the upcoming elections. Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent assertions, Shah envisioned securing 370 seats for the BJP and over 400 seats for the NDA alliance, citing the government's decisive actions, including the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, as evidence of widespread support, reported PTI.
BJP Govt Revived The Economy In 10 Years: Amit Shah
The Union Home minister took a dig at the opposition, saying, "Congress and other opposition parties have realised that they will again have to sit in the opposition benches", reported PTI.
Addressing concerns about the timing of a government white paper, Shah justified its release, citing the need for transparency regarding the state of the economy left behind by the previous UPA government. He said it was necessary as the country has full right to know what mess the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) left behind when it lost power in 2014.
"At that time (2014), the economy was in a bad shape. There were scams everywhere. Foreign investment was not coming. Had we released a white paper at that time, it would have given a wrong message to the world" PTI quoted Shah as Saying.
Shah underscored the government's efforts in revitalising the economy and combating corruption. "But after 10 years, our government has revived the economy, brought foreign investment and there is no corruption at all. So it is the right time to publish the white paper," he remarked.
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