In a major relief for the BJP-led NDA Government, seven more parties have accepted the invitation to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building, raising the number of parties scheduled to attend the launch ceremony to 25, even as the Congress-lead Opposition parties have intensified their attack on the Prime Minister and the Union Government. The Congress accused the Prime Minister of being “megalomaniac” and the Government of being “arrogant.

These seven non-NDA parties — BSP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), YSR Congress, BJD and TDP — account for 50 MPs in the Lok Sabha, and therefore their participation will help the NDA blunt the Opposition’s charge that the inauguration of new Parliament building is just a government event.

As the political row over the opening of the building on May 28 escalated, the BJP hit back alleging the Opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration just because it has been built at the initiative of Prime Minister Modi. However, the BJP appealed to the Opposition parties to attend the “historic day” of its inauguration by showing “big heart”. Nineteen Opposition parties, including Congress, Left, TMC, SP, AAP, have come together to jointly announce the boycott of the inauguration ceremony, saying they find no value in a new building when the “soul of democracy has been sucked out”.

BSP president Mayawati called the Opposition boycott inappropriate and welcomed the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Modi. She also said the Opposition should have thought about “tribal honour” when it fielded a candidate against Murmu and denied her an unopposed election.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday said it will take part in the inauguration of the new Parliament building with party chief N Chandrababu Naidu instructing Rajya Sabha MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar to represent the party. The JD(S) supremo and former prime minister Deve Gowda too said he would attend the inauguration.

Congress lashed out at the ruling BJD and its president, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for “abiding” with Modi on all occasions, including the new Parliament building inauguration. The BJD hit back accusing the Congress of doing politics over a non-issue and raised questions over its role during the presidential election.

They have also protested the decision that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the building, claiming this was an insult to the highest constitutional office of the President of India. Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend the event.

All 18 NDA members — BJP, Shiv Sena, National People’s Party, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Jannayak Janata Party, AIDMK, IMKMK, AJSU, RPI, Mizo National Front, Tamil Maanila Congress, ITFT (Tripura), Bodo People’s Party, Pattali Makkal Kacchi, MGP, Apna Dal and AGP — are the other attendees.