National Democratic Alliance (India)

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is a centre-right^[1] coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and had thirteen constituent parties. Its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Also representing the alliance are L. K. Advani, former deputy prime minister who is the acting chairman of the Alliance, Narendra Modi, current Prime Minister of India and Leader of house in Lok Sabha; Arun Jaitley, Leader of house in the Rajya Sabha. The coalition was in power from 1998 to 2004. The alliance stormed back to power in the elections held in April/May 2014. Its leader, Narendra Modi was sworn-in Prime Minister of India on 26 May.

History

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The National Democratic Alliance was formed in May 1998 as a coalition to contest the general elections. It was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, and included several regional parties, including the Samata Party and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), as well as Shiv Sena, the only member which shared the Hindutva ideology of the BJP.^[2][3] With outside support provided by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the NDA was able to muster a slim majority in the elections of 1998, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee returned as prime minister.^[4] The government collapsed within a year because the (AIADMK) withdrew its support. After the entry of a few more regional parties, the NDA proceeded to win the 1999 elections with a larger majority. Vajpayee became prime minister for a third time, this time for a full five-year term.^[5]

The NDA called elections in early 2004, six months ahead of schedule. Its campaign was based around the slogan of "India Shining" which attempted to depict the NDA government as responsible for a rapid economic transformation of the country. However, the NDA unexpectedly suffered a heavy defeat, winning only a 186 seats in the Lok Sabha, compared to the 222 of the United Progressive Alliance led by the Congress, with Manmohan Singh succeeding Vajpayee as prime minister. Some commentators have stated that the NDA's failure to reach out to rural Indians was the explanation for its defeat; others have pointed to its "divisive" policy agenda as the reason.^[6][7]

Structure

The National Democratic Alliance does not have a formal governing structure in place, such as an executive board or politburo. It has been up to the leaders of the individual parties to make decisions on issues such as sharing of seats in elections, allocation of ministries and the issues that are raised in Parliament. Given the varied ideologies among the parties, there have been many cases of disagreement and split voting among the allies. Owing to ill health, Sharad Yadav, the national president of the Janata Dal(United) political party. On 16 June 2013, the JD(U) left the coalition and Sharad Yadav resigned from the role of the NDA convener.^[8]

Present Members and Seats in Parliament

NDA Governments in various states

As of October 2014, states with BJP governments are shown in orange (7), and NDA governments in brown (4). States where the BJP is a significant opposition party are in yellow (7), and states where other NDA members are significant opposition parties are in pink (2)

As of October 2014, the BJP holds a majority of assembly in seven states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Goa, Haryana and Maharashtra. In three other states and one Union Territory – Punjab, Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry respectively – it shares power with other political parties of the NDA coalition. The BJP has previously been the sole party in power in Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Delhi. It has also ruled Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand as part of coalition governments.^[20]

List of Current NDA Chief Ministers

List of Prime Ministers

List of NDA Candidates for 2014

Alliance Election wise

For Lok Sabha Election 2014

Party	Base State	Seats Contested	Seats Won	Seat Change
Bharatiya Janata Party	National Party	426	282	166
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam	Tamil Nadu	15	0	0
Pattali Makkal Katchi	Tamil Nadu	8	1	1
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	Tamil Nadu	7	0	1
Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi	Tamil Nadu	1	0	0
Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi	Tamil Nadu	1	0	0
New Justice Party	Tamil Nadu	1	0	0
Telugu Desam Party	AP Telangana	30	16	10
Jana Sena Party	AP Telangana	0	–	–
Shiv Sena	Maharashtra	20	18	7
Swabhimani Paksha	Maharashtra	2	1	0
Republican Party of India (Athvale)	Maharashtra	1	0	0
Rashtriya Samaj Paksha	Maharashtra	1	0	0
Shiromani Akali Dal	Punjab	10	4	0
Lok Janshakti Party	Bihar	7	6	6
Rashtriya Lok Samata Party	Bihar	3	3	3
Haryana Janhit Congress	Haryana	2	0	1
Apna Dal	Uttar Pradesh	2	2	2
Kerala Congress (Nationalist)	Kerala	1	0	0
Revolutionary Socialist Party (Bolshevik)	Kerala	1	0	0
All India N.R. Congress	Puducherry	1	1	1
National People's Party (India)	Meghalaya	1	1	1
Naga People's Front	Nagaland	1	1	0
United Democratic Front	Mizoram	1	0	0
Manipur Peoples Party	Manipur	0	–	–
North-East Regional Political Front	North East	#	–	–
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha	West Bengal	0	–	–
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party	Goa	0	–	–
Goa Vikas Party	Goa	0	–	–
National Democratic Alliance – Total	India	543	336	195

^ BJP had fielded 427 candidates on 427 seats out of 543 but nomination of BJP candidate S. Gurumurthy was rejected from Niligiris for failing to submit mandatory forms during his nomination.^{[22][23][24][25][26][27]}
(#) NPP, NPF and MNF are contesting in each Seats & Other 8 Members supporting NDA Candidates

For Lok Sabha election 2009

For Lok Sabha Election 2004

For Lok Sabha election 1999

For Lok Sabha Election 1998

Past members

Year by year changes

2011

New parties that have joined NDA coalition are Haryana based Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) and Maharastra based Republican Party of India.
Ajit Singh led Rashtriya Lok Dal has withdrawn from NDA.narendra modi is powerful

2012

Presidential election

NDA nominated P. A. Sangma as its presidential candidate who lost against UPA's Pranab Mukherjee.

Vice-Presidential election

Jaswant Singh was named as the candidate for the post of Vice-President against UPA's Hamid Ansari. Ansari won his second term in office.^[31]

2013

On 16 June 2013, Nitish Kumar led Janta Dal United(JD-U) has withdrawn from NDA.

On 13 September 2013, Narendra Modi declared as PM candidate for 2014 Elections

On 11 August 2013, after a discussion with BJP President Rajnath Singh, Janata Party Chairman Dr.Subramanian Swamy officially joined Bharatiya Janata Party and merged his Janata Party with the Bharatiya Janata Party in presence of BJP president Rajnath Singh.The announcement was made by Mr Swamy and BJP president Rajnath Singh after they met at the latter's residence in Delhi. Former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari and senior party leader Arun Jaitley were also present at the meet.

2014

On 1 January 2014, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhhagam leader Vaiko has announced that MDMK formally joined back to NDA. Vaiko also announced Modi will be the best candidate for Prime Minister.^[32] The two small parties viz Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam and Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi have also joined NDA Alliance. The BJP would like Two more southern parties such as Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi to also join the alliance.^[33]

In Maharashtra,two regional political outfits, Swabhimani Paksha and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, joined NDA in January. ^[34] The coalition of Five parties is termed as Mahayuti. So in Maharashtra now NDA alliance consist of 5 Parties viz BJP, Shiv Sena, Republican Party of India, Swabhimani Paksha and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha.^[35]

On 23 February 2014, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party led by Upendra Kushwaha joined NDA and will be contesting at 3 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.^[36] On 27 February 2014 Lok Janshakti Party led by Ramvilas Paswan joined NDA^[37] It would contest at 7 Lok Sabha Seats in Bihar during 2014 Elections.^[38]

DMDK will be fighting Lok Sabha Election through an alliance with BJP led NDA.^[39] MDMK, PMK led Social Democratic Alliance are the other allies of NDA in Tamil Nadu.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena : Its President, Sh. Raj Thackeray announced external support to NDA on 9 March 2014 which is marked as Party's formation day, supporting Sh. Narendra Modi as Prime Ministerial Candidate.

Indian National Lok Dal : Its Gen. Sec., Sh. Ajay Singh Chautala announced external support to NDA, supporting Sh. Narendra Modi as Prime Ministerial Candidate.

Lok Satta Party : President Shri J P Narayan announced external support to NDA, supporting PM candidate Narendra Modi ji.

All India NR Congress (AINRC) formally joined NDA on 13 March 2014 and will be contesting in Puducherry Lok Sabha constituency.^[12]

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has rejoined NDA on 6 April, after breaking alliance in 2004 post general election defeat.^[40]

Shiv Sena Though Shiv Sena has quit Mahayuti in Maharashtra, before Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Elections 2014, but has decided to remain with NDA at the Centre.^[41]

All Jharkhand Students Union BJP on Monday clinched an alliance with All Jharkhand Students Unions for Jharkhand Assembly elections under which its junior partner will contest eight of the 81 seats in the state.^[42]

See also

• United Progressive Alliance
• Coalition government
• Third Front (India)

References

External links

• lkadvani.in