NDA meet sans local issue

NEW DELHI - The NDA’s show of strength in Ludhiana did not start off as a national event. The rally, say leaders of Punjab’s ruling Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine, was to be a localised event for the Akali Dal candidate in the industrial hub.

But the idea of putting up a show of strength and checking out the loyalty of NDA allies came to the top BJP leadership in New Delhi last week. Phones started ringing and one thing led to another.

Akali Dal’s Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal agreed to play host. And the rally was upscaled to being a national event which top BJP leaders like L.K. Advani now describe as ‘historic’.