NDA allies on one platform to secure majority in Jharkhand

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday categorically said that the regional parties would remain allies of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Jharkhand despite the party securing a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha polls.

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is the BJP's election in-charge for Jharkhand, said the NDA will exist in the state just like it does in New Delhi.

"This state has been lagging behind due to the lack of a clear majority. Our political preference of achieving a clear majority remains, but the NDA will exist like it does in New Delhi," he told the media here.

Pradhan further said the number of seats for each party of the alliance has been decided upon.

"All the four parties including BJP, AJSU, LJP and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party will fight the elections together in Jharkhand. The seat sharing arrangement has already been worked out," he said.

Meanwhile, AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto said the alliance will replicate the positive change that has been brought in the Indian politics by the BJP Government at the Centre.

"We are going before the people together, at a time when the people of this state want to see the change that has come in the Indian politics to be replicated here. People want a state that has the requisite resources and is full of opportunities. The people are viewing this alliance as the one which will shape these opportunities," he said.

Mahto further said the NDA will overhaul Jharkhand's image.

"In these elections, we want to make this state from a labour state to a skill state. We want this state to be known not as a coal producer, but as a power producer," he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, BJP president Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released the party's manifesto for the Jharkhand Assembly elections.

Reaching out to the electorate, Shah yesterday said that a stable government is the panacea to all problems in Jharkhand.

"Only a BJP government with a clear majority can provide stability and ensure development," he added.

The BJP chief identified stability, transparency and welfare as the cornerstones on which BJP would function if voted to power in the state.

Jharkhand goes to polls on November 25 in a five-phase election. The results would be announced on December 23.