Hat-trick for NDA in LS polls, says Modi

New Delhi: Sounding the poll bugle for the 2024 electoral battle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday predicted that the BJP-led NDA will score a hat-trick in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Mr Modi said that the alliance will bag more than 50 per cent of the votes as the NDA is a representation of the core values of democracy.

Addressing the representatives of 39 political allies of the expanded NDA, Mr Modi took a dig at the Opposition camp, which rechristened itself "INDIA" from UPA ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections. The PM said, "Wo paas paas to aa sakte hain par saath nahin aa sakte (They can come together but can't unite)." He also slammed the Opposition for underestimating the intelligence of the voters.

During the meeting, a resolution was passed stating that all constituents of the NDA resolved that the alliance will "unitedly contest" the Lok Sabha election under Mr Modi's leadership.

"The NDA constituents make a proclamation to emerge victorious in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of the Prime Minister with a bigger mandate, powered by massive public support and blessing... The NDA parties laud Mr Modi for propelling India on the path of unprecedented development through his commitment, devotion, unrelenting hard work, selfless dedication and for giving the citizens the opportunity to feel proud over the realisation of the power and prowess of their country."

Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde proposed the resolution, which was supported by AIADMK's K. Palanisamy and AGP's Atul Bora.

The resolution also claimed that the Opposition is facing a crisis of identity and relevance. "Today, the Opposition is confused and disoriented," the resolution stated.

The NDA allies leaders also addressed the gathering and praised the Modi-led government's various initiatives in the last nine years.

After the meeting, Mr Modi sat with the NDA partners for dinner and shared a table with Mr Shinde, HAM's Jiten Ram Manjhi, Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel and Mr Palanisamy.

Earlier in his address, the Prime Minister said, "The public sees the NDA's history and chemistry, which is why the math adds up. The NDA's vote share was 38 per cent in 2014 and 45 per cent in 2019. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA's vote share will be above 50 per cent because of its allies who are working hard."

In a message to the Opposition, Mr Modi said not just the people of the country but even foreign countries have sensed the 2024 outcome as many countries are inviting NDA representatives, which is not usual in an election year.

With the NDA completing 25 years, Mr Modi said the expansion of the alliance is not numerical or geographical but is an expansion of the trust of the people of every region as well as a rainbow of regional aspirations.

Noting that the NDA represents "sabka prayas (effort by all)", which is necessary for a nation to function smoothly while a majority is needed for a government to run, Mr Modi slammed the Congress for stitching up alliances for just political gains.

When the alliance is due to the compulsion of power, when the alliance is with the intention of corruption, when the coalition is based on the policy of familylism, when the alliance is done keeping casteism and regionalism in mind, that alliance does a lot of damage to the country," said the PM.

Recalling the formation of the NDA, Mr Modi said the NDA was formed not to make a government or stay in power but to bring stability to the nation, unlike earlier when the Congress alliance was used to destabilise governments or stay in power. He said the NDA is a legacy of late party patriarch and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Remembering the NDA stalwarts, including Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, SAD's Parkash Singh Badal, Shiv Sena's Balasaheb Thackeray, RLD's Ajit Singh and Sharad Yadav, Mr Modi said these leaders contributed to shaping the NDA.

"In the NDA, 'N' means new India, 'D' means developed nation, 'A' means aspirations of people and region," said the PM.

Slamming the Opposition for its negativity, the Prime Minister said even when the NDA was in the Opposition, it pursued positive politics and never defamed the mandate.

"Even when we were in the Opposition we did positive politics...to strengthen democracy...we never defamed the mandate...we never sought help from foreign forces...we never created hurdles in the country's development path," said the PM citing how some state governments of the Opposition parties do not allow the Central schemes for the poor and common man, fearing it could impact their political clout.

Asserting that the NDA balances the development and cultural heritage of the country, Mr Modi said the NDA's "niyat, niti aur nirnay" are all in the national interest.

"In politics, there is competition but not entity," said Mr Modi as he slammed the Opposition for abusing the NDA and him personally.

Pointing out the contrast between the NDA and the Opposition, the PM said the NDA conferred Opposition leaders like Pranab Mukherjee the Bharat Ratna and other Opposition leaders, including Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Tarun Gogoi, among others, the Padma awards for their contribution to nation-building.

In the NDA, people see the core values of democracy," said the PM as he cited the various G-20 events being held in states, including those ruled by non-NDA parties.

Taking a dig at the Opposition camp, Mr Modi cited the example of Kerala, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir to say that while the Left and Congress, the TMC, the PDP and the NC are sharing the dais, they are arch rivals in their respective states, which has even confused their cadre.

"Over 140-crore people in the country are watching this (Opposition meeting. They can come together (to defeat the Modi-led NDA) but cannot unite. Those who spend time abusing me should use their time for the betterment of the poor. The 2024 elections are not far...people have made up their mind...they will give the NDA a chance for the third time," said the PM.

In an apparent reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to the US, Mr Modi said that in an election year, even foreign countries keep tabs on what the poll outcome will be, and it is unusual to invite leaders of a party that is unlikely to win.

"...par iss samay Bharat ka maamla alag hai. Many important nations, like the US, UK, Japan, Australia, France and UAE, are inviting NDA representatives. India is signing major agreements with some of these countries because they know that Indians have faith in the NDA. They know what the mandate will be (in 2024)," said the PM.

Before concluding his speech, Mr Modi said to the NDA allies, "I assure you that I will leave no stone unturned in my hard work and efforts... Every particle of my body, every moment of my time is dedicated to the country."