Amit Shah on mission 400+ for NDA

New Delhi: On the BJP's target of '400 paar' (beyond 400 seats) for the ruling NDA at the Centre in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said his party candidates will go to the people based on its proven track record over the last 10 years and the development agenda that it has set for the next 25 years.

Widely acknowledged as a shrewd poll strategist and one of the key architects of the party's string of victories across states, Shah said he was 'certain' that the BJP will win more than 300 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will sail past the targeted benchmark of more than 400 seats.

"We (BJP) have a track record of 10 years to go to the people with, as well as the agenda for the next 25 years to build a grand and a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India). The people have faith in our deliverance and are invested in our vision of development. It (400-paar) isn't just poll rhetoric. You can for yourself on counting day. We (BJP) will sail past 300 and the NDA will cross 400," Shah said during a session at the India Today Conclave 2024 on Friday.

On allying with Chandrababu Naidu's Telegu Desam Party (TDP), a former NDA ally, in Andhra Pradesh, despite him making statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier, the Union Home Minister said, in a lighter note, that Naidu possibly got back to his senses after losing the elections last time.

"We did not break ties with Chandrababu Naidu earlier. It was his decision not to be with the NDA. He called us hardcore terrorists, went to people seeking votes and lost the elections. He is back to his senses now. They (regional parties willing to join the NDA) are all welcome," Shah said.

On why the BJP preferred the TDP over Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP, the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh, despite the fact that the party supported the ruling party at the Centre in pushing through key legislations in the Rajya Sabha, Shah said voting for a piece of legislation in Parliament does not necessarily translate into an electoral tie-up.

(ANI)