BJP president J.P. Nadda on Monday termed the Opposition’s unity meeting in Bangalore as a gathering of a “bunch of corrupt leaders” but justified his party’s alliance with leaders like Ajit Pawar, who are facing serious corruption charges, by saying there was nothing wrong if somebody wanted to stand with the saffron party’s ideology.

The duplicity came out during a media address by Nadda where he sought to compete with the meeting of 26 Opposition parties in Bangalore by claiming that a total of 38 parties would participate in the NDA meeting in Delhi on Tuesday.

“For the NDA meeting to be held tomorrow evening, 38 partners have provided their confirmation,” Nadda said, terming the large number of participants as a reflection of the NDA’s increased scope due to the “development and empowerment” politics under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party, however, did not provide a list of the 38 parties, saying it will be for all to see during the meeting.

After heaping praise on Modi, Nadda slammed the Opposition’s unity move. “The UPA neither had a leader nor intention, nor policy nor power to take decisions. It is a bunch of corruption and scams,” he said.

However, when asked about the BJP welcoming NCP leaders such as Ajit Pawar, who are facing serious corruption charges, Nadda said the “law will continue to take its course”.

“The BJP since Jan Sangh days has remained committed to its ideology like Article 370, Ram temple, strong nation… This is an ideological journey and people join it. Somebody understands (the ideology) today, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” he said.

“On the corruption cases, the law will take its course. We respect the law, we respect the Constitution,” he said responding to charges that the corruption cases against the leaders who have aligned with the BJP would be dropped.

He went on to justify their induction in the BJP by saying: “Lekin ek movement hai, us movement me hamare saath koi judna chahta hai... us ideological commitment ke saath koi khada hona chahega to hum chalenge. Aakhir development humein thodi akele karna hai, sabko milke karna hai (But this is a movement and if somebody wants to be with us in the movement... if somebody wants to stand with our ideology, then we will take him along. After all, development will not be done only by us but with the contribution of all others).”

In response to a question about the BJP’s core image getting altered due to the alliances it has been striking, Nadda said: “Ideology is fixed but strategy keeps changing. What you find today to be wrong may be correct tomorrow. Ultimate goal is to strengthen the ideology,” he said, citing the example of taking a different route when the usual road is flooded.

The NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar will participate in the NDA meeting on Tuesday along with a host of regional and sub-regional parties. Modi is scheduled to be present at the meeting too.

Nadda claimed the NDA was not for power but “sewa” (service) and that the “people of India have already decided” to return the Modi-led government to power for a third straight term next year.

The BJP has rarely shown this kind of interest or held an NDA meet in the last over nine years of its rule, making it clear that the hurriedly convened meet has been pushed by the Opposition’s unity efforts.