Senior NDA leaders gathered in Delhi for an informal dinner meeting at the residence of MP Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal, just days before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Bihar. The meeting, attended by key figures from the BJP, JD(U), and allied parties, is believed to have centered on the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections set for October-November.
Earlier in the day, state BJP president Dilip Kumar Jaiswal met Shah to discuss the party’s preparations. Shah is expected to hold a crucial NDA meeting in Patna on March 29, followed by a large public rally in Gopalganj. While leaders described the dinner as a casual gathering, the timing suggests a strategic discussion ahead of the elections.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha downplayed speculation, asserting that NDA allies have always maintained strong coordination. Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha expressed confidence in the alliance’s prospects, dismissing the meeting as a routine get-together. Meanwhile, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader and Union Minister Chirag Paswan predicted a landslide victory for NDA, stating that the alliance is poised to secure at least 225 seats in the Assembly.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of protests in Patna over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, led by RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. Given the political climate, discussions likely included ways to counter the opposition’s growing momentum.
Apart from Kushwaha, Paswan, and Sinha, the meeting saw participation from BJP national president J.P. Nadda, JD(U) acting chief Sanjay Kumar Jha, HAM(S) leader and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister Giriraj Singh, and JD(U) leader Rajeev Ranjan Singh, among others. Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and BJP’s state in-charge Vinod Tawade were also present, reinforcing the significance of the gathering.
With Shah’s visit around the corner, the NDA appears to be setting the stage for a well-coordinated election campaign. While opposition parties are mobilizing on key issues, the ruling alliance remains focused on its strategy, with leaders expressing optimism about a decisive victory in the state.
