Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: With the growing split between the JD(U) and the BJP after the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the latter’s poll panel chief, party veteran L K Advani has tried to reach out to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
According to sources, Advani spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, requesting him to try and placate Nitish in order to keep the National Democratic Alliance intact.
The senior leader, who had skipped the BJP national executive meet in Goa and had even submitted his resignation after Modi’s elevation, also called up Nitish and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav to convince them to remain with the NDA.
However, reports said that Nitish is in no mood for a compromise and has even called a meet of the JD(U) leaders to meet on June 15 to discuss ties with the BJP.
Meanwhile, BJP president Rajnath Singh and veteran leader Murli Manohar Joshi also talked to Nitish, said sources.
The appointment of Modi as BJP`s election campaign committee chief, over which JDU has strong reservations, has brought the long standing alliance between the two parties to a precipice and could split the BJP-led NDA, top sources in JD(U) said.
In fast-changing equations, JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi, deputed by Kumar, met Banerjee in Kolkata and discussed the possibilities of forming a federal front.
On its part, the BJP too appears reconciled to the possibility that JD(U) may be preparing to ditch the alliance in Bihar.
"Right now the alliance is there in Bihar. The mandate was given by the people in the state for BJP-JDU alliance in the interest of the state. The BJP wants that the alliance should continue in Bihar. It (parting ways) will be a disrespect to the mandate," BJP spokesman Syed Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters.
He made it clear that what he was saying has the mandate of the party president Rajnath Singh.
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, however, said, "a new situation has emerged. After the JD(U) defeat in Maharajganj Lok Sabha bye-election, the way BJP and JDU leaders have been making statements, the party will have to consider it. We will take a decision (on continuance of alliance with BJP) soon."
