JUNE 16- The BJP and JD-U appeared set for imminent parting of ways in Bihar on Sunday when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (photo) meets his top party leaders to take a final call in the wake of Narendra Modi’s elevation.
Further hints of the break-up in the 17-year-old alliance were given on Saturday by senior JD-U leader Shivanand Tiwari who said the announcement of a split was a “mere formality”.
As JD-U chief Sharad Yadav arrived in Patna, the Chief Minister held parleys with other leaders, including MPs and MLAs. Yadav and Nitish have already been authorised by the party National Council to take a decision on the alliance with BJP in case Modi is projected by the party.
The deterioration in ties was evident when Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Bihar NDA Convenor Nand Kishore Yadav, both BJP leaders, on Saturday spurned an invitation from Nitish for a round of discussions on the current political situation.
The BJP also appeared ready for the inevitable when senior leader Ravishankar Prasad said that while it was maintaining restraint and wanted the alliance to continue in the interest of Bihar, it was “awaiting” the decision of JD-U.
Tiwari, who is widely perceived to reflect Nitish’s views, also dubbed Modi as an “arrogant” and “divisive personality” who cannot take all sections along.
He said after what Nitish Kumar had said on Friday, there was nothing left in the alliance to be saved. “It’s (announcement of a split) only a formality,” he said in clear indications of things to come.
“We have been looking for a categorical assurance that Narendra Modi will not be the prime ministerial candidate in whatsoever situation, but that has not been forthcoming from them (BJP) during talks to save the NDA,” the senior JD-U leader said.
“Let it be clear once and for all that the BJP has forced the JD-U to walk out of the alliance by being not forthcoming on Modi’s future role,” he said.
“The situation will be clear by tomorrow,” JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said in Patna tonight before meeting Nitish at his residence.
“I have come here for holding discussion with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other JD-U legislators and leaders over development that have taken place in past few days to take a decision whether to continue in NDA or not,” the JD-U President, who was accompanied by General Secretary K C Tyagi, said.
Immediately after arrival, Yadav went to One Anne Marg, official residence of the CM, and held deliberations with him.
The Bihar BJP’s core committee members met for over two hours here to review fast developing political situation in Bihar following which the state unit chief Mangal Pandey defended the state party leaders’ decision not to meet Nitish.
“There was no need for Modi and Yadav to visit the Chief Minister’s official residence to meet him to discuss any matter under vitiated atmosphere between the two allies,” Pandey said.
BJP leader Nankishore Yadav said “we are state leaders and have no authority to talk about prime ministership which only our national leaders can talk.”
He said that he had told the CM that “our national leaders including Party president Rajnath Singh, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Nitin Gadkari and others have been talking to you and Sharad Yadav on larger political issues including PM nominee…the subject does not fall in our jurisdiction hence there is no point meeting”.
Education Minister P K Shahi regretted that the two senior BJP leaders did not come to meet the chief minister at the latter’s official residence where Nitish and other senior JD-U leaders were waiting for them.
INDIA TODAY
