BJP trying to revive NDA as winning in 2024 will not be easy: Omar Abdullah

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

BJP is trying to revive the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2024 general election as winning the polls will not be as easy as it wants to project, National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah claimed here on Tuesday. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister alleged that in the last 5-8 years, the BJP «did not honour friendship» with its allies anywhere but is now seeking rapprochement «out of compulsion». On the issue of a Uniform Civil Code, Abdullah said it is the BJP's right to raise its agenda.

He said the NC does not support the BJP's agenda but if such a statute is implemented, there should not be any exemption for any community, not even tribals. «I think our focus should be on the way the BJP is trying to revive the NDA. This is proof that the BJP feels that the ground is not in its favour,» Abdullah told reporters here while replying to queries on the party raising «core» issues like UCC.

«One by one, its friends left. Their oldest friends like Shiv Sena or Akali Dal or other parties. So, what has changed is that it has become the BJP's compulsion that it is again offering the hand of friendship, that they are trying to revive the NDA,» the NC vice president said.

He said in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP is talking to Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and in Punjab attempts are being made to get Akali Dal back. «They are talking to Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. So, let us leave the BJP's core agenda, the ground which the BJP says is in their favour, the reality is that 2024 (polls) will not be as easy for them as they want to portray to the people through you (media),» Abdullah added.