Ahead of its weekend review, JD(U) on Friday gave clear signs yet again of an emerging split with BJP, saying there are problems and the situation is “difficult” even as a senior party leader lashed out at BJP.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said in Patna that the situation is difficult and what is to be done in this difficult situation is being discussed by all.
He was replying to a question whether it is going to be the end of the 17-year alliance between JD(U) and BJP.
JDU chief Sharad Yadav said no ultimatum had been given to the BJP so far on snapping ties with them.
The BJP meanwhile, was hopeful of saving the alliance.
Efforts from the BJP side were on to reach a solution.
BJP President Rajnath Singh has said the party did not want to break its alliance with the JDU.
Back-channel confabulations between top brass of BJP and JD(U) are on since Wednesday to save the alliance which has been shaky since Gujarat Chief Minister was anointed head of BJP election campaign committee.
Sources said while BJP is firm that this decision — which is the bone of contention between the two parties — is non-negotiable, it is making all efforts to convince JD(U) that the alliance is needed.
BJP’s efforts come in the backdrop of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar indicating that he may break away from NDA while seeking to blame the right-wing party for it.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who along with L K Advani was against Modi’s elevation, tweeted on the need for saving the alliance.
“Only a united opposition can defeat Congress. Whenever opposition got united, Congress was defeated. Therefore, NDA’s unity is a historical necessity. We must do everything to keep NDA united,” Swaraj said on micro-blogging site Twitter.
JD(U) is opposed to Modi being made the NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate, a view Swaraj and Advani reportedly concur with.
BJP leaders maintained that no assurance has been given to JD(U) on the Prime Ministerial candidate issue but all attempts are being made to save the alliance.
“The people of Bihar have given a mandate to the JD(U)-BJP alliance. We would like to honour that mandate. All efforts are being made to keep the alliance intact,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.
Asked about Kumar’s barb aimed at BJP when he said ‘Dua dete hain jeene ki, dawa karte hain marne ki’ (they wish for your life but give you poison), she refused to read “between the lines” on the issue.
“We want to take every step to keep the alliance intact,” Sitharaman said.
