Balance regional aspirations, national interests: TDP chief

Key BJP allies TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar on Friday endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance with a message to balance regional aspirations and national interests.

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Speaking at the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting here, BJP allies JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, NCP chief Ajit Pawar, HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi among others supported the proposal moved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to elect Modi as the leader of the NDA.

The meeting in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the old Parliament House, saw a lot of bonhomie as well as lighter moments among the leaders with Shinde describing the alliance as a "Fevicol bond", Kumar trying to touch the feet of Modi, who stopped him midway and the prime minister patting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on his shoulder.

LJP(Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, who repeatedly referred to Modi as 'Sir' while supporting the resolution, received a warm embrace from the prime minister. Jana Sena Party Pawan Kalyan received a special mention in Modi's speech when he said that "Pawan was not wind but a storm".