Nitish faces another Modi trouble

With Nitishs posturings leaving it red-faced,the BJP central leadership now appears to have shed its reluctance to take on the Bihar Chief Minister. In New Delhi,the party conveyed its dismay and anger to NDA convenor and JD(U) president Sharad Yadav,and is set to weigh the options before it in the poll-bound state.

Senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain,who hails from Bihar,met Sharad today and told him that the party was upset over Nitishs acts. The party central leadership is closely watching the developments in Bihar. The leaders will discuss the issue tomorrow, Hussain said later.

Sharad,on his part,insisted that the alliance with the BJP would continue. The NDA is still functioning and there is no question of a break-up, he said. Meanwhile,JD(U) spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari said Nitish had not been contacted by any senior BJP leaders.

While the attempt is to try and resolve the issue through dialogue,Bihar BJP chief C P Thakur struck a warning note. We are trying our best to save the alliance. But we cannot compromise on our self-esteem. Nobody should force us to the wall, he told The Indian Express. Asked if the BJP was ready to fight the Bihar polls alone,he said: If differences with the JD(U) are not sorted out,we are left with no option. Our cadres are ready for such a situation.

Thakur,who is in the Capital,is likely to meet the JD(U) chief tomorrow. None of the BJP ministers was consulted before the unfortunate decision of returning the money Gujarat gave for relief in the Kosi disaster. After all,we are a 40 per cent partner in the government, he said.

Thakur is also scheduled to meet party chief Nitin Gadkari and apprise the central leadership about the situation and the mood in the Bihar unit,the options before the party,including the consequence of a break-up and going it alone in the Assembly elections.

Sources said Gadkari may also call key BJP leaders from Bihar,including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi,to Delhi for wider consultations.

The issue cannot be allowed to linger on. It is not good for either of the two parties, said Thakur. Some misunderstanding has taken place. It would be resolved within a day or two. The BJP-JD(U) is a very good combination. We have fought many elections and achieved success. I hope this combination would continue, he said.

Meanwhile,having refused to share the dais with the Chief Minister,Sushil Modi refused to elaborate on the gesture. A close Modi aide said the Deputy CM would not like to add anything at this crucial juncture in the JD(U)-BJP relationship.

Junior BJP ministers have,however,started speaking up. Co-operatives Minister Giriraj Singh said the Nitish government did not set a good precedent by returning the money given by the people of Gujarat for a noble cause.

Public Health and Engineering Department Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said that nobody should dictate terms to the BJP on who should campaign for the party in the upcoming Assembly polls. It is up to the party to decide if Narendra Modi should be part of the Bihar campaign, said Choubey.