JD(U) hints at alliance with Congress after splitting from BJP

Mangalore Today/CNN-IBN

New Delhi, June 13: While the Janata Dal United has hardened its stand against the Bharatiya Janata Party with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar calling a meeting of the JD(U) leaders to discuss the party’s alliance with the BJP, JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan has indicated that if Bihar is given backward state status, supporting the Congress cannot be ruled out.

"In politics, all possibilities are open. Right now we are a part of the NDA and our first priority is to take a decision on this alliance," Ranjan said when asked if the JD(U) will be willing to form an alliance with the Congress if the UPA government grants Bihar backward state status.

 

The coronation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the BJP’s poll panel chief for the upcoming general elections is now leading to a certain exit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of Nitish Kumar. An all out war on Modi was launched by the JD(U) on Wednesday. "If BJP chooses a man who was involved in the 2002 (Gujarat) riots and wants to make him a leader, it will not be accepted by us," said JD(U) leader Narendra Singh.

For the past one year, Nitish Kumar has dropped enough hints that he would never be able to tie up with the BJP if Modi was party’s prime ministerial candidate. A few weeks back, Nitish Kumar had even set a deadline of December for the BJP to make up its mind.

But post the BJP National Executive meet in Goa, it seems like he has made up his mind of snapping ties with his 17-year-old partner. Within Bihar, a large section of state leadership has been asking for going alone for some time.

As clamour for Modi for prime minister grows within the party, Nitish Kumar had to make his move now. In fact, he is already now busy doing the math to remain in power in Bihar, even without the support of BJP.

In a house of 243, Nitish Kumar led-JD(U) has 119 MLAs including a dissident. The BJP stands at 91. In case of snapping of ties with BJP, Nitish Kumar will be short of four MLAs to cross the halfway mark of 122. He hopes to get these either by managing the abstention of four Congress MLAs or with the support of four independents. Three out of four independents have already committed their support, which means he would be short of crossing the halfway mark by just one seat.

But by late Wednesday afternoon, the script threatened to change again. LK Advani, who resigned from all BJP positions only to withdraw his resignation in 24 hours, asserted his authority by speaking to Nitish Kumar and appealing to stay on. "This has been an old alliance. We hope the alliance stays," said BJP Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.

But the damage to JD(U)-BJP alliance seems to have been done and the only thing left now perhaps is a formal announcement.

Meanwhile, the Congress has hinted that it is willing to welcome the Bihar Chief Minister for an alliance. "All secular parties are welcome within the UPA," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said on Wednesday.

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla also welcomed reports of the JD(U)-BJP split. "They have made it clear that they will not make any compromises on secularism. We want more people to follow the path of secularism, so that peace prevails in society and India flourishes. A country where people are fighting among themselves can never progress," Shukla said.