Bihar BJP gives go-ahead to split with JD(U): Reports

Zee Media Bureau

Patna: Days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) elevated Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its poll panel chief, it now appears certain that the NDA is headed for a split with the JD(U) not willing to move from its stand. In the wake of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar failing to give any assurance to veteran BJP leader L K Advani and party president Rajnath Singh, the Bihar unit of the party called an emergency meet of its office-bearers yesterday. According to sources, the BJP office-bearers gave their go-ahead for a split with the JD(U). Meanwhile, a report said that deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi has asked officials to not seek his approval or clearance for any work. This suggests that the Bihar BJP is already considering itself out of the alliance. Another report said that BJP leaders in the state were upset with senior JD(U) leaders questioning the existence of the NDA alliance in Bihar. The crucial meeting, which went on for over three hours, was attended by senior leaders, including BJP vice president C P Thakur, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi and other MLAs. This came after the BJP said that no assurance had been given to the JD(U), which is opposed to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi`s elevation as Election Campaign Committee head of the right-wing party. In reply to a question on the issue, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman had said, "I don`t think there is an assurance to JD(U) on who will or who will not be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party." It is widely believed in BJP and NDA that it is a near certainty that Modi will be the PM candidate of the party after his elevation at the Goa conclave as campaign committee head. Sitharaman also insisted JD(U) cannot decide on who should be the PM candidate of BJP. "The decision to choose A or B or C is entirely the business of BJP," she added. However, she maintained that BJP does not want to snap ties with JD(U) which is an old ally. She further said the government in Bihar has been formed after the people of the state gave a mandate to JD(U)-BJP alliance. It was not a vote for a particular party or an individual. With PTI inputs