36 NDA allies attend Shah’s ‘aabhar milan’ ahead of Lok Sabha results

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 21

Thirty-six NDA allies, including JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Akali Dal supremo Parkash Singh Badal, his son Sukhbir and Union minister Harsimrat Badal on Tuesday attended BJP president Amit Shah’s ‘aabhar milan’ — thanksgiving dinner — two days ahead of the announcement of results of the Lok Sabha elections and expressed their complete support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said all NDA allies backed Prime Minister Modi and the three allies who could not attend had sent their letters of support. 

With the exit polls predicting a clear majority for the Narendra Modi government, NDA leaders expressed confidence in their victory. Before the dinner, Prime Minister Modi and Shah met the council of ministers at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi to “thank them for their service to the nation” in the past five years.

“I congratulate Team Modi Sarkar for their hard work and remarkable achievements in the last 5 years. Let us keep this momentum going for a New India under the leadership of PM @narendramodi,” Shah tweeted after the meeting.

Leaders of the 36 NDA allies were present at the dinner, a message of solidarity and show of strength amid the snowballing EVM controversy. Exit polls have predicted the return of PM Modi to power with a clear majority amid attack by opposition parties over alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs).