BJP advices restrain as 17-year-old alliance with JD-U on shaky ground
19 April 2013 1:36 AM GMT
The uneasy relationship between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) in Bihar was the key topic on which discussions took place at the meeting of the party’s Bihar core group. Sensing that the 17-year-old alliance between the two parties is at tenterhooks, BJP president Rajnath Singh, on Thursday, asked the party cadre to strengthen the organisation at the booth level. The BJP leaders also assessed the ground situation in all the 40 Lok Sabha seats.
Though leaders from both parties have attacked each other and talked about a split in the alliance, it is learnt that BJP president advised state ministers not to air their views publicly.
Sources said that the BJP president has instructed the state leadership that only authorised individuals would react to any comment made by its alliance partner. Sources also indicated that in an eventuality of the alliance breaking up, the BJP does not want to be held responsible for the break up.
‘We have never tried to weaken the alliance and the Bihar needs NDA,’ said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain. The BJP leader also informed that the state leadership has now authorised the central leadership to take any decision regarding the alliance. Sources also said that a section within the central leadership was of the view that the situation in Bihar is ‘fluid’. Also in the meeting it was learnt that a few state leaders from Bihar wanted to break the alliance. However, a section felt that breaking the alliance will harm the electoral prospects of the party.
The BJP spokesperson was, however, critical of the statement of JD(U) leader, Brishen Patel, who had said that the alliance is towards its end and only the last rites between the two parties are left. ‘He should tell us how he wants the last rites to be done,’ said Hussain.
Though leaders from both parties have attacked each other and talked about a split in the alliance, it is learnt that BJP president advised state ministers not to air their views publicly.
Sources said that the BJP president has instructed the state leadership that only authorised individuals would react to any comment made by its alliance partner. Sources also indicated that in an eventuality of the alliance breaking up, the BJP does not want to be held responsible for the break up.
‘We have never tried to weaken the alliance and the Bihar needs NDA,’ said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain. The BJP leader also informed that the state leadership has now authorised the central leadership to take any decision regarding the alliance. Sources also said that a section within the central leadership was of the view that the situation in Bihar is ‘fluid’. Also in the meeting it was learnt that a few state leaders from Bihar wanted to break the alliance. However, a section felt that breaking the alliance will harm the electoral prospects of the party.
The BJP spokesperson was, however, critical of the statement of JD(U) leader, Brishen Patel, who had said that the alliance is towards its end and only the last rites between the two parties are left. ‘He should tell us how he wants the last rites to be done,’ said Hussain.
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