Patna: In a major move to enhance alliance coordination and streamline governance, chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday decided to convene a high-level meeting of all five NDA partners on July 10 at Lok Sevak Awas, the CM’s residence, here.The meeting will be the first major brainstorming session of the ruling alliance since the BJP-led new govt was formed in the state on April 15. A senior BJP functionary said invitations have been sent to national and state-level functionaries of all five allies and also to district presidents. Choudhary will anchor the meeting.The functionary said Choudhary’s predecessor and JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Lok Morcha national president Upendra Kushwaha and all ministers in the state cabinet have been requested to attend the deliberation. The meeting will also take up preparations for the Bankipur assembly byelection, scheduled for July 30.The five NDA constituents expected to participate are the BJP, JD(U), LJP(RV), HAM(S) and RLM.A senior NDA functionary said the chief minister wants feedback from district heads of alliance partners on implementation of the state govt’s welfare and development schemes. The functionary said the gathering is also intended to project unity among the five allies ahead of the Bankipur bypoll in Patna, where the alliance faces a high-stakes contest against Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor.Welcoming the move, senior JD(U) leader and deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said, “It is a good initiative taken by the chief minister. Such coordination meetings with the NDA allies used to happen even during the tenure of Nitish Kumar as the CM. Nitish Ji used to take feedback from the district presidents of all allies. The present CM has resumed the exercise. It is a welcome step.”Political observers said the convention is being seen as an attempt by Samrat Choudhary to reinforce organisational unity within the coalition. Coalition leaders said coordination at the headquarters remains smooth, but the July 10 meeting is designed to carry that “perfect synchronisation” to the district level.“This meeting will strengthen unity among the NDA allies,” deputy CM said.
