This Article is From Jun 11, 2013

Nitish Kumar discusses BJP crisis with ministers as sources talk of final phase

Nitish Kumar discusses BJP crisis with ministers as sources talk of final phase
Patna: While the BJP tries to undo the crisis caused in Delhi by the resignation of its leader, LK Advani, a potential sequel to its troubles is developing in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar, the chief minister, who runs his government in partnership with the BJP, will chair a cabinet meeting this evening. Sources say that the shape-shifting developments within the BJP will not be referred to.

But it's hardly business as usual.

Mr Kumar said on Monday that his party, the Janata Dal United (JDU) is calibrating its response to the BJP's decision to place Narendra Modi in charge of its election campaign.

Sources, however, say that the final countdown has already begun. They say that Mr Kumar has begun consulting senior ministers and local leaders to prepare them for a possible split with their ally.

The appointment of Mr Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, as the Chairman of the BJP's campaign committee has been opposed by Mr Advani and his loyalists who worry this brings him within the finishing line of being made the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

Mr Kumar's JDU has said that it will end its alliance with the BJP if that happens. Its leaders allege that Mr Modi did not do enough to stop the communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which hundreds of Muslims were killed.

Mr Advani has resigned from all party posts, but he remains chairman of the National Democratic Alliance or NDA, a coalition of nine parties which is fronted by the BJP and of which the JDU is a senior member.

Sharad Yadav, the president of the JDU who is also the convenor of the NDA, warned on Monday that "the NDA is on ventilator support," hinting that his party is contemplating whether to remain with the coalition.
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