Modi voices concern over Opposition’s EVM row at NDA leaders’ meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed concern over what he called an unnecessary controversy created by the Opposition over electronic voting machines (EVMs), at a meeting of leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The ruling alliance also set out its agenda for the next five years if it returned to power, Union Home Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh told reporters.

The NDA resolution

Singh said 36 parties attended the meeting, which passed a resolution calling the 2019 election decisive for the country and pledging to build a strong, developed, prosperous and inclusive India by 2022, when the country completes 75 years of independence. The resolution, moved by Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, expressed confidence that the NDA would return under Modi. It said the government had planned capital investment of Rs 100 lakh crore in infrastructure and Rs 25 lakh crore for farming and rural sectors, described the alliance as representing the dreams of 130 crore Indians, and voiced concern over what it called a systematic attack by the Opposition on institutions. Leaders of three other parties sent letters of support, Singh said.

According to Singh, Modi stressed the need to move politics away from caste lines and towards the poor. Paswan said Modi became emotional while mentioning political violence against BJP workers in Kerala and West Bengal.

Who attended

The dinner meeting, hosted by BJP president Amit Shah and presided over by Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, was attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and E K Palaniswami, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, among others. Shah had earlier hosted Union ministers to thank them for their work.

Opposition at the EC

Earlier on Tuesday, leaders of 22 opposition parties met the Election Commission and asked that VVPAT slips from randomly selected polling stations be verified before counting began. Paswan dismissed the Opposition’s protests over EVMs as frustration at an expected defeat.

What happened next

Votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha election were counted on 23 May 2019. The BJP won 303 of the 543 seats and the Congress 52, and Narendra Modi was sworn in for a second term as Prime Minister on 30 May 2019.

See also: Bharatiya Janata Party

Originally published on 22 May 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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