National Democratic Alliance (India)
The
National Democratic Alliance (
NDA) is a coalition in
India. It is led by the
Bharatiya Janata Party and had 13 constituent parties at the time of its formation in
1998. The convenor of NDA is
George Fernandes, and its honorary Chairman is former Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The NDA formed the Government in 1998, which collapsed within a year due to the
AIADMK pulling out, but it won the 1999 elections and formed a stronger majority. The NDA governed under Prime Minister Vajpayee for a full five years hence, and was widely expected to win the 2004 elections. But the BJP, the chief party lost too many key seats along with the major allies and the Alliance could not bid for power. Former Deputy Prime Minister and BJP chief
Lal Krishna Advani heads the NDA as Leader of the Opposition.
Currently, the other parties in the NDA are:
*
Shiv Sena*
Janata Dal (United)*
Biju Janata Dal*
Trinamool Congress*
Shiromani Akali Dal*
Nagaland People's Front*
Mizo National FrontThe
Telugu Desam Party gives it outside support. Several of the smaller parties have pulled out of the NDA in the course of its five year term, the latest being the
DMK, the
PMK and the
MDMK which, along with the
Indian National Congress formed the "Democratic Progressive Alliance" (DPA) in
Tamil Nadu, and became a part of the ruling
United Progressive Alliance in the
centre. MDMK has since quit DPA.
BJP made this to support their last government but after the government many parties have taken their support backSee also:
List of political parties in India.