New Delhi:
Senior BJP leader
LK Advani has called up Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav amid speculation that the two parties might split over the elevation of
Narendra Modi in the BJP.
Sources said Mr Advani emphasised that the two partners should contest next year's Lok Sabha elections together as that would benefit the National Democratic Alliance or NDA - the national coalition that they partner in. Sources have told NDTV that Mr Advani also spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and requested him to reach out to Mr Kumar to not break the NDA.
Nitish Kumar, sources say, does not agree; he is reportedly bristling at the growing hold of Mr Modi in the BJP and is preparing to end the partnership.
Senior members of his party have attacked Mr Modi. Referring to the Gujarat Chief Minister's drive to collect iron for what he claims will be the tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari said today, "Sardar Patel's image should not be spoilt....His personality was one that built. Narendra Modi's personality is divisive. Had he been here, Sardar Patel would have held him by his ear and pulled him out of power."
Another leader Narendra Singh, a senior minister in Bihar, said, "They have given the leadership in the hands of a tainted person....they want to continue with their fundamentalist politics. JDU will not tolerate this." He was referring to Gujarat's communal riots 11 years ago in which hundreds of Muslims were killed during Mr Modi's first term as Gujarat Chief Minister.
Only JD(U) President Sharad Yadav offered a note of restraint. "We will meet everyone and take their opinion. We will decide after that," he said.
On Monday, when Mr Advani had resigned from all party posts, upset that the party over-ruled him to promote Mr Modi, Mr Yadav had warned that the JDU would reconsider its participation in the NDA. Mr Advani was persuaded by his party to change his mind on Tuesday. "Now that he has withdrawn his resignation, it is a different situation," said Mr Yadav.
Sources in the BJP say it has reconciled to a break-up, though officially there is talk of working things out. "If there are any struggles in the coalition, we will strive to do away with them," said BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who is the Deputy Chief Minister.
Mr Yadav is the convenor of the NDA; Mr Advani is its chairman.