Swamy hops onto the NDA bandwagon

Seeking to capitalise on the poor performance of Congress in the assembly polls in five states, the NDA on Sunday decided to add another partner to the alliance by taking in its fold Janata Party headed by Subramanian 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 BJP veteran L K Advani. With this addition, the number of NDA allies will rise to six. The other five constituents of the combine are BJP, JD-U, Shiromani Akali Dal, Shiv Sena and Ramdas Athawale-led Republican Party of India (A). 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.