Both symbols and processes have special significance in Indian politics – and the meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party on Tuesday during the Parliament session has also been a similar tradition for a long time. It was not only a platform of dialogue, direction and discipline within the party, but was also the center of promoting the policies of the government and reply to the allegations of the opposition. But the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 gave this balance a little bit. The BJP remained away from a clear majority for the first time and had to depend on the support of NDA constituents to form the government at the Center. Now, when the NDA parliamentary party meetings are being held in place of BJP parliamentary party meetings, it is not just a work -change change, but also a sign of changes in political reality and change in strategy.
Let us remind you that when the BJP got an absolute majority in 2014 and 2019, the meeting of the parliamentary party to be held every Tuesday was a reflection of the confident and single decisive style of power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders would guide the party MPs, decide the line on necessary policy issues and sometimes teach discipline lessons to MPs. Allies were not invited to these meetings as there was no dependence on BJP’s allies at that time. But in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had to stay below the magic figure of 272. It required the support of NDA constituents – especially the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United) to form the government. Maintaining the strength and balance of this alliance has now become the primary responsibility of the BJP.
In this changed situation, it is a practical and strategic decision to hold meetings of NDA Parliamentary Party instead of organizing a meeting of only BJP parliamentary party. This makes allies part of the decision process, they are given respect and platform, ensuring the stability of the government. The meeting of the NDA parliamentary party today is a clear indicator of this change. This meeting was not limited to the BJP’s ‘its MPs’, but an attempt to bring out the collective leadership of the entire coalition. This also leads the message that the government is not only the BJP, but the NDA government and this gives political respect to the allies. This step is also reminiscent of the days when the NDA government under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee was run and all the constituents were included in the collective discussion.
The question is also whether the meetings of the BJP Parliamentary Party have been completely closed or are postponed at the moment? It is possible that the BJP is operating internal meetings in other informal ways, or it may be that the party’s focus after the elections is currently stronger. But it is certain that the strategy of “BJP’s Akthatra Raj” is currently postponed in the current political equation, and in its place the style of “shared leadership and consent -based decisions” is being adopted. The BJP parliamentary party meeting and the NDA meeting is not just a technical change, the BJP is a symbol of the strategy of understanding and accepting the changed political reality. It also shows the political maturity of the Modi government, which is now understanding the need to take partners along and give them a platform. In the next few years, it will be interesting to see whether this new style is just a compulsion of alliance or will become a permanent political functioning of the new era.
As far as today’s meeting is concerned, let us tell you that the NDA parliamentary party honored Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his government’s strong reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack under ‘Operation Sindoor’. Amid the slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, senior leaders of the BJP and its allies honored Prime Minister Modi. At the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Amit Shah and said that he is now the longest serving Union Home Minister.
A resolution was also passed in the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parliamentary party held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The proposal saluted the unique courage and unbreakable commitment shown by the armed forces during “Operation Sindoor” and “Operation Mahadev”. In the meeting, the Prime Minister in his address expressed concern over the parliamentary barrier and took a dig at the opposition.