NDA bandwagon decides to fight 2019 Lok Sabha elections under Modi's leadership

PIC: AFP

New Delhi: Focusing on second term, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comprising of 33 parties on Monday passed a resolution to fight 2019 Lok Sabha polls under the "successful" leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "To continue with the development and poor welfare programs, NDA urges the citizens of the country to be determined to give huge majority to NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019," the resolution said. Earlier, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, who attended the meeting at the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra at Chanakyapuri in New Delhi's diplomatic enclave said, "The NDA leaders decided to work together to succeed in 2019 Lok Sabha elections under Modi's leadership." "Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan made the proposal for fighting Lok Sabha election under Modi and it was accepted unanimously," the BJP leader added. The NDA meeting was attended by 33 parties including Shiv Sena and Akali Dal but there was no discussion on the upcoming presidential or vice presidential elections.     Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackrey and Akali Dal's Prakash Singh Badal represented their parties. Addressing the media, Financial Minister Arun Jaitley said the NDA meeting endorsed the policies of the government specially its "pro-poor policy". "Despite the bad shape of economy, the government did a good job and headed towards development. There was not a single corruption charge against the government in its last three years' reign," he said. The minister also said that new allies have joined NDA and this is the symbol of this government's popularity. Asked if there was any discussion about the presidential elections, the minister categorically denied it, saying "No". Speaking on relationship with Shiv Sena, Jaitley said, "Shiv Sena is the oldest BJP ally. At times some issues come when they don't agree but Uddhavji today attended the meeting and he was positive." The NDA also hailed Modi for BJP's stunning victory in recent assembly polls. "The BJP's victory in recent assembly polls is a mandate on pro poor policies and public welfare schemes of NDA government. The results established Modi as most popular Prime Minister of the country after independence," the statement said. TDP Chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that India needs a stable government for sustainable development. "India is only economy which can achieve double digit growth. Even China can't. This is possible only under Modi's leadership. Sustainability will come with stable government," he said. (With Agencies input)