The BJP and its NDA partners on Tuesday hit out at the opposition parties, saying giving a new name to their alliance will not change their character and the 2024 LokSabha battle is going to be “Bharat Mata versus INDIA”.

They were reacting after 26 opposition parties announced their coalition – Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) – to unitedly take on the ruling NDA in the 2024 LokSabha polls with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asserting that the fight will be “between INDIA and Prime Minister NarendraModi”.

BJP IT department head AmitMalviya said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) of the opposition parties had to kill its existence and acquire a new identity even when those who are part of this ‘new’ alliance haven’t changed.

“National Democratic Alliance was founded in 1998. 25 years later, on a day, an expanded, stronger, NDA is meeting. The UPA had to kill its existence and acquire a new identity, even when those, who are part of the ‘new’ alliance, haven’t changed,” Malviya tweeted.

“Character doesn’t change by changing names,” he added.

In another tweet, Malviya said UPA had become synonymous with corruption and regressive politics and the same players are now regrouping under a different name.

But the new name of the opposition alliance will not make them “any more credible”, he said, adding, “People will banish them to boondocks, again”.

The BJP leader alleged it is “apparent” that the opposition parties have come together to save their “shrinking turfs, not serve the people”.

“In 2024, the country will elect Prime Minister Modi, the leader… The future of our country is too precious to be risked with one of the self serving, corrupt, dynastic parties,” he added. RashtriyaLokJanata Dal founder and former Union minister UpendraKushwaha said in a tweet, “It will now be Bharat Mata versus INDIA (new name of opposition alliance).”