Message Of Unity, Agenda-Setting For Polls: Here’s What Happened At NDA’s Dinner Meet For Bihar
An insider told CNN-News18 that the gathering served as a launchpad to send a message to national parties like the Congress that a double-engine government, well-thought-out strategy and coordination are what it takes to win elections
On Wednesday evening, all constituents of the NDA — in alliance both in the Centre and in Bihar — met at the residence of former BJP Bihar chief Dr Sanjay Jaiswal for a meeting chaired by the party’s national president JP Nadda.
The one direct and crucial message that Nadda conveyed to the alliance partners was the importance of unity. Drawing a comparison with the seemingly crumbling alliance between the RJD and the Congress in the state, Nadda said unity in NDA was of great significance. “United we stand and divided we fall. If we are united, we can ensure a record-breaking performance in the upcoming elections," Nadda is said to have conveyed to the leaders at the meeting.
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Wednesday’s gathering was also an extension of the Bihar Day celebrations in the national capital — an initiative launched by the Centre to recognise the state’s legacy, culture, food, and tradition across the country, given the pan-India migrant population from the state.
“This was a big launchpad for the NDA in the national capital to send a message to national parties like the Congress that a double-engine government, well-thought-out strategy and coordination are what it takes to win elections," an insider told CNN-News18.
The seat distribution for the year-end Bihar elections has not taken place so far and smaller parties, like Jitan Ram Manjhi-led HAM and Ram Vilas Paswan faction of the LJP led by Chirag Paswan, have been vocal about their demands. But this time, the seats will be distributed differently.
“Every time, we look at seats and divide them among alliance partners. This time, we will look at candidates and ask every NDA partner to come up with their set of candidates for the said seat. Winnability will be the final criteria for getting the seat," the insider added.
In the coming month or so, there will be two high-profile visits to Bihar from the Centre. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Gopalganj on March 29 and 30 for a meeting of the ministry of cooperation, apart from addressing all PAC representatives. The most important part of the visit will be the official setting of the agenda by the alliance. On March 29, Shah will meet BJP leaders for an internal meeting and the following day, he will meet all NDA partners to talk about the common strategy that needs to be followed in the run-up to the election.
“Unlike last time, this time, we will have a common strategy in place, and it will be a fight for NDA and not a particular political party or symbol. Like Maharashtra, we are expected to have a common manifesto and all leaders, including those in the Centre, will campaign for all the candidates of the alliance. The message that must go to our party cadre right from the booth-level is that a united front is contesting the election," the source said.
In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the state and he is expected to address a programme of the gram panchayats in Madhubani on the 24th.
With a few months to go for the election and new partners in the NDA bloc, Wednesday’s meeting was significant because it was attended by top leaders of all parties. Apart from MPs of various alliance partners, Nadda from the BJP, working president of the JDU Sanjay Jha, LJP president Chirag Paswan, Manjhi from HAM and Upendra Kushwaha strengthened the strategy for Bihar from the national capital.
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