Anti-BJP Mahagathbandhan an illusion, it doesn't exist anywhere: Shah

Amit Shah presser Aayush Goel (File) BJP chief Amit Shah (centre) addressing a press conference | Aayush Goel

BJP chief Amit Shah on Wednesday declared the planned mahagathbandhan of parties opposed to the BJP was an illusion.

Shah was speaking at a summit organised by Republic TV on Wednesday. Shah argued, “The reality of an opposition mahagathbandhan was different [from the rhetoric]. It doesn't exist and is a bhranti (illusion).” Shah declared the mahagathbandhan does not exist anywhere.

“We have fought against all of them [opposition parties] in 2014 and defeated them to form the government. They are all regional leaders, they can't help each other," Shah said.

Shah accepted the BJP's loss in assembly elections in the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to the Congress was “not favourable” for the saffron party, but stated “it was not right” to link the results to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Shah noted, “State polls can't be linked to Lok Sabha poll results; both elections are fought on separate issues.” However, Shah conceded, “It is imperative not only for the BJP, but also for the country that the BJP wins the next elections in the Hindi heartland and other areas.” The 'Hindi heartland'—consisting of states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh—had given the bulk of the 282 seats the BJP won in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Shah also claimed he was “sure” the BJP and Shiv Sena would contest the next Lok Sabha polls and talks were on with the regional party. Earlier this year, the Shiv Sena declared it would contest the next Lok Sabha and assembly polls on its own. While it has been constantly critical of the BJP, the Shiv Sena remains part of the NDA and is a partner of the BJP in Maharashtra.

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