The Lok Sabha elections are fast approaching and political parties are in full swing, preparing candidate lists, mending fences with disgruntled leaders, mathematically arranging coalitions, and enlarging their families by reuniting with former allies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has raised the battle cry 'This time, over 400 seats.' The party is now diligently setting up state-wise equations from east to west and north to south in order to make this slogan a reality.
After the return of Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United (JDU) in Bihar, Jayant Chaudhary's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh, and HD Deve Gowda's Janata Dal Secular (JDS) in Karnataka into the NDA fold, fresh buzz surrounds Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Discussions about the potential inclusion of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh and the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Naveen Patnaik in Odisha into the NDA are gaining momentum. Meetings between BJP and BJD are reportedly on the rise from Delhi to Bhubaneswar.
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During Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Odisha, a promising chemistry was observed between him and Naveen Patnaik. Both leaders were seen showering praises upon one another. The BJP-BJD alliance seems to be moving from speculation to an almost confirmed formality. Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to meet with BJP President JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on March 7. With simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections approaching in Andhra Pradesh, TDP aims to cement the coalition swiftly. Currently, TDP is allied with Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party in Andhra, with the first joint candidate list recently announced.
Bihar sees Nitish while Jayant joins in UP
The BJP achieved its first major breakthrough in Bihar with Nitish Kumar's JDU forsaking the opposition coalition for a comeback to the NDA. In Uttar Pradesh, RLD, with a strong hold in the Western region, joined the NDA ranks, and BJP successfully brought JDS in Karnataka on board. And that's just the beginning. On a smaller scale, BJP has been proactively absorbing leaders from other parties, constructing state-level screening committees.
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Beyond the high-profile mergers, several other leaders from various parties across states like Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu have recently joined BJP. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan left Congress, while Tapas Roy from TMC has aligned with BJP in West Bengal. In Arunachal Pradesh, three out of four Congress legislators, as well as several leaders from RJD and Congress in Bihar, have defected to BJP. Former Gujarat Congress President Arjun Modhwadia and former legislators have entered the BJP fold while in Tamil Nadu, ex-AIADMK leaders and a former MP are now with BJP.
Where to Expect Further Expansion
As estranged parties return to the NDA, there's speculation about the resurgence of Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab into the fold. Post-election in Telangana, there is also talk about KCR's Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) aligning with BJP. Despite Shiromani Akali Dal leaders refuting these speculations, notable cross-party movements have been witnessed. In Uttar Pradesh, former SP chief whip Manoj Pandey, Pawan Pandey, Pooja Pal, among seven others, and in Himachal Pradesh six legislators including Rajendra Rana, demonstrated cross-voting in favor of the BJP. Their incorporation into BJP is a subject of much conjecture. With Anil Antony, son of AK Antony, already joining, another former CM's daughter, Padmaja Venugopal from Kerala, is also poised to enter the BJP.
