The JD (U) is expected to have a smooth sailing, with five out of the 6 independent MLAs pledging their support. Even the lone MLA of CPI has assured its support to the Bihar chief minister.
In the 243 member state assembly, JD (U) currently has 118 MLAs and to reach the halfway mark of 122, it just needs outside support of another four MLAs. Though there aren’t any major hiccups for Kumar, the war of words between JD(U) and its former ally has already begun with Bihar chief minister accusing the BJP of cornering the elders in the party, in an apparent reference to the side-lining of LK Advani over the Narendra Modi issue.
‘The era of Atal-Advani is over... we cannot accept the new order of the BJP. Those who have betrayed and cornered their own elders have no right to point fingers at others,’ said Kumar.
Kumar blamed the saffron party for creating an environment in which his party had to leave the NDA and criticised it for misinterpreting his speech in 2003 at a railway function in Gujarat where he praised Modi.
‘The protocol says that in government function a union minister is not supposed to criticise a state government. As a union minister are we supposed to make a political speech at an official function?’ said Kumar. The Bihar CM said his party's decision to snap ties with the BJP was not taken in haste and happened after due deliberations.