Updated: October 18, 2020 8:03:12 am
Janta Dal (United) boss and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with BJP Senior Leader and Executive Vice President Sushil Kumar Modi during a press conference ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections in Patna. (PTI file photo)
Shaken by Party Leader Lok Janshakti By Chirag Paswan Repeated attacks on its leader Nitish Kumar, and its simultaneous praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, Janata Dal (United) warned its ally that this could damage the alliance. And he has asked the BJP to clearly state that he will not play both sides. This may be easier said than done.
But, the sources said, this was behind top BJP leaders on Friday who harshly criticized Paswan, backed Nitish and announced joint rallies by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish kumar. This, even as a section of the BJP planned to shore up the young Paswan, in the hope that this would “cut Nitish to size”, would backfire and reduce his party to a junior partner. This section even wanted the LJP as a partner, given its 5% support base, especially among a section of Dalits.
At least three JD (U) MPs the Indian Express spoke with admitted there was such a “deliberate” attempt.
“In the BJP, there is a section that does not like Nitish Kumar and they wanted to disparage him. That boy (Chirag) was created by this section. But then they realized that when the water enters the boat, the whole boat drowns, ”said one leader. This explains, sources said, why there will be no “separate” demonstrations of BJP or JD (U) in the state, but all under the umbrella of the NDA.
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“This would be the first time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek votes for the NDA from each of his platforms in Bihar,” JD (U) Senior Leader KC Tyagi told The Indian Express. “He will ask people to vote for an NDA led by Nitish Kumar. From the JD (U) side, Kumar will share the stage with the Prime Minister at each rally. “
“There has been some doubt or confusion after Chirag Paswan’s comments about his connection to the BJP and the prime minister. But these (the rallies) will clear the smoke, ”Tyagi said. While the BJP general secretary in charge of Bihar Bhupender Yadav Calling Paswan’s remarks against Nitish “extremely unfortunate” and a “policy of lies”, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar criticized the LJP as “just a katuaparty vote”.
JD (U) sources said the party will insist that LJP cannot be considered either for the vacant post of Rajya Sabha after the death of Ram Vilas Paswan or for the ministerial post in case of a cabinet expansion. “The LJP has presented candidates against NDA candidates. So how can you consider for both? Also, JD (U) will definitely present a candidate against Chirag in the next Lok Sabha elections, ”said one leader.
JD (U) MPs Dulal Chandra Goswami (Katihar MP); Dileshwar Kamait (Supaul); Santosh Kumar (Purnia); and Dinesh Chandra Yadav (Madhepura) flatly denied that Paswan’s comments had any impact on the NDA’s prospects.
“BJP leaders, including core leaders, have clarified that LJP is not part of NDA. People will not listen to him, they will take Chirag’s comments as an act of desperation, “said Dinesh Yadav.
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“There is no confusion. Our workers are clear about who is in the NDA, ”Kamait said. Santosh Kumar added: “The workers of the BJP and the JD (U) know each other in all the electoral districts. All confusion is cleared up with the statements of the BJP leaders ”. Still, fingers are crossed on how much of that confusion clears up on the ground as the campaign enters the final fortnight before the first phase of voting on October 28.
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