Proposed non-BJP opposition bloc may be named 'Patriotic Democratic Alliance'

The name of the proposed opposition front could be “Patriotic Democratic Alliance” or PDA, and a final decision on this would be taken at the next meeting of opposition parties at Shimla next month, said people familiar with the matter.

The name of the proposed opposition front could be “Patriotic Democratic Alliance” or PDA, and a final decision on this would be taken at the next meeting of opposition parties at Shimla next month, said people familiar with the matter.

Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D Raja made an assertion to this effect while addressing party workers in Patna on Saturday, said people. He also said the PDA would be given a final shape at the Shimla meeting, where the next level of deliberation of opposition leaders would take place between July 10-12.

When contacted, D Raja said on the phone to Hindustan Times on Sunday that the name of the alliance could be ‘PDA’ but stressed a final decision had not been taken yet. “We can say the new alliance could be named Patriotic Democratic Alliance (PDA). We have not taken a final decision on it. We have the primary objective of defeating the NDA and all the opposition parties have a clarity on it,” he said.