Ludhiana: With few days left for the last phase of polling, every front - be it the UPA, the NDA or even the Third Front are all out to show their strength. And to prove that the NDA is united while the UPA is in disarray, chief ministers of NDA-ruled states participate in a rally in Ludhiana.
NDA's largest ally JD(U), the Assam Gana Parishad, Om Prakash Chautala's INLD, Ajit Singh's RLD, and NDA's oldest ally Shiv Sena, are participating in the rally.
The chief ministers seen include Narendra Modi, Nitsh Kumar, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Prakash Singh Badal, Raman Singh, Prem Kumar Dhoomal, B C Khanduri and Yeddiyurappa. Together they are expected to talk of the good governance of the NDA.
TRS, which fought the elections in alliance with the Left parties and TDP in Andhra Pradesh, also appeared on NDA platform in a major boost to the BJP-led front ahead of the final phase of the polls.
A highlight of the rally is that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is sharing the stage with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier, in an exclusive interview to NDTV's group editor Barkha Dutt, Nitish had said he would not share stage with Modi.
Presence of Nitish Kumar at the rally came amid overtures to him by the Congress and the Left for a post-poll tie up. He told reporters in Patna before his departure for the rally that he is not in touch with any non-NDA constituent, nor has any such party or leader contacted him.
"I have clarified on several occasions that neither I am in touch with anybody nor any party or leader (from outside NDA) has contacted me. How many times will I clarify. I am saying this clearly that there is no possibility of me being in touch with anybody at all," Nitish said. (With PTI inputs)