New Delhi, Sep 29 — Ahead of the INDIA Bloc meeting on September 30, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday lashed out at the opposition leaders, alleging that the alliance's only aim is to "save its dynasty politics".
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party (SP) said its President, Akhilesh Yadav, is likely to skip the meeting ahead of the upcoming polls in Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking to IANS, BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan questioned the unity of the INDIA Bloc, citing differences of opinion among SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar.
"These people, like Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, are more focused on saving their political dynasties," he alleged.
Echoing a similar view, BJP MLA Ram Kadam claimed that the INDIA Bloc was formed to "save their dynasties".
"These parties have come together for their own selfish interests. They have neither any ideology nor are they unanimous in decision-making. In such a scenario, whether the (INDIA bloc) meets or not, is for them to decide," he told IANS.
"The INDIA bloc is maligning the country's image in the direction of an enemy nation," he said in an indirect reference to Pakistan.
While saying India's democracy allows citizens to voice their views on any issue, JD-U spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said the Congress needs to decide, "How will it benefit itself by being directionless?"
"Rahul Gandhi needs to answer for being silent over the polling process whenever his party or that of his allies win elections in states like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, etc. But whenever they lose elections, they start abusing the Election Commission. People have now understood this pattern of theirs," he remarked while speaking to IANS.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma clarified the reason for Akhilesh Yadav's absence from the opposition's meeting on September 30.
"Since party chief Akhilesh Yadav already has scheduled programmes in view of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and Rajya Sabha polls, it might not be possible for him to attend the meeting immediately. Especially because it is more important for him (Yadav) now to be on the ground (for campaigns)."
However, Verma added that representatives from SP will attend the INDIA bloc meeting.
"We stand with the INDIA bloc and believe steps should be taken for the wrongdoings within the Election Commission," he told IANS.
Congress MP Karamvir Singh Boudh appealed to all opposition parties to come together, saying: "Democracy appears to be under threat somewhere. That is why we appeal that whoever wants to save the Constitution of India should come together on one platform, forgetting all personal interests."
JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey said the meeting will be "very important" to decide the alliance's next steps and to ensure the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said that though the party is no longer part of the opposition alliance, it stands by the decisions taken earlier by the INDIA bloc.