This Article is From Jun 14, 2013

Nitish Kumar looks at joining 'Eastern Bloc'

Katihar: As Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's chopper landed in the BJP stronghold of Katihar in north Bihar, the bickering allies put up a united front. But will this also end up being the last mile for a nearly two-decade-old alliance?

Unhappy over Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's elevation as campaign committee chairman for the BJP, Mr Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) fears the former could become his party's de facto prime ministerial candidate. He is also making no bones about the open offers he's got from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

On Wednesday, BJP veteran LK Advani phoned Mr Kumar to placate his fears; more calls followed from other leaders including party President Rajnath Singh.

In spite of attempts from the BJP's top brass to reassure him, Mr Kumar has not given up on the political possibilities ahead.

"I spoke to Mamata ji. It's too early to say what shape her idea will take. But I must say, we are concerned with whatever has happened over the last few days (within the BJP)," he said.

For now, the BJP maintains that Mr Modi's elevation doesn't translate into him being the party's face for 2014. Though many in the party feel the JD(U) could only be delaying the inevitable till it meets over the weekend.

"We will do everything to keep the alliance intact. Our alliance with JD-U is an old alliance," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Meanwhile, the emerging eastern bloc of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and Mr Kumar could find friends in the south with TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu saying he is open to a non-BJP, non-Congress option.

As it watches the JD(U)'s move closely, the BJP is keeping  its fingers crossed, hoping that the storm within doesn't rock its boat.
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