NDA allies from UP to share stage in Delhi to mark 12 years of Modi govt

Lucknow: Partners of the BJP-led NDA geared up to put up a show of unity as part of an upcoming grand celebration of 12 years' completion of the Narendra Modi govt at the Centre.UP will be represented by all NDA allies, including Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel, SBSP president OP Rajbhar, NISHAD Party president Sanjay Nishad and RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary. While Rajbhar and Nishad reached Delhi on Tuesday, Jayant cancelled all his other political engagements, including a rally in Shamli on Wednesday, to attend what is being billed as a "special event" of the NDA.Rajbhar said that over the past 12 years, the NDA govt has accomplished "historic" work in areas such as national development, the welfare of the poor, social justice, infrastructure and the empowerment of farmers, youth and women. He stressed that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India has established a new identity on the global stage. Nishad said that the benefits of the NDA govt's policies and schemes have reached the last person in society. The govt has worked to translate the resolve of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas' into reality on the ground. The show of unity by NDA allies attains much significance in the case of UP, where elections are scheduled early next year. The development comes just a day after leaders of 25 opposition parties under the INDIA bloc met and agreed on greater coordination, including regular meetings every two months.By bringing all allies together on one platform, the BJP, sources said, aimed to neutralise any perception that the opposition alone is displaying cohesion. The message is that while the INDIA bloc is discussing unity, the NDA is demonstrating it publicly. Not surprisingly, the NDA's decision to project a united front at the national event marking 12 years of the Modi govt is more than a commemorative exercise. Analysts said that it was a political signal aimed at both allies and opponents ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.The presence of key UP allies potentially sent the message that the NDA alliance remained intact despite growing speculation over seat-sharing negotiations and political ambitions of individual partners.