NDA to add Swamy's Janata Party as ally

Seeking to capitalise on the poor performance of the Congress in the assembly polls, the National Democratic Alliance on Sunday decided to add another partner to the alliance by taking in its fold Janata Party headed by Subramnian Swamy.

The decision to include Janata Party as an ally was taken at a meeting of NDA floor leaders ahead of the Budget session at the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party veteran L K Advani in New Delhi.

"Swamy was keen to join the alliance and had been meeting the NDA leaders," senior BJP leader S S Ahluwalia told reporters after the meeting.

With this addition, the number of NDA allies will rise to six. The other five constituents of the combine are the BJP, the Janata Dal-United, Shiromani Akali Dal, Shiv Sena and Ramdas Athawale-led Republican Party of India.

Athawale and Swamy were not part of the meeting as only floor leaders of the NDA were invited. The two parties have no representation in Parliament.

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