The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)’s decision to contest some Assembly seats in Gujarat has caused some ripples in the Bihar NDA. No senior leader from both the party has come forward to say anything, but off the record, leaders of the two allies are staking claim or rejecting it.
Ironically, the JD(U) had fielded candidates in Gujarat polls 2012, when the party was in alliance till 2013 and also won one seat. The JD(U) feels that the BJP should have spoken to its ally but it did not, forcing the party to decide to go alone. However, The BJP rejected the claims saying the JD(U) is a regional party and should not think beyond Bihar.
As per the report, the JD(U) has decided to contest in at least six seats on its own. Bihar Minister Maheshwar Hazari said, “BJP’s attitude has forced us to take this decision. The party did not consult us despite knowing fully that JD(U) has support base there and it has been winning one or two seats. It was the responsibility of the BJP being the big party to take us into confidence.”
Countering JD(U)’s assertion, BJP’s Nawak Kishore Yadav said, “Their claim is baseless. Nitish himself had admitted that his is a Bihar based regional party. Being a regional party, what business it has in Gujarat. It should better concentrate in Bihar.”
In Gujarat, the JD(U) will not only challenge the BJP but also face challenge from within. The Sharad Yadav faction of JD(U) has also decided to contest at least six seats and most of them are those constituency on which Nitish’s party has staked claim. The only JD(U) MlA from Gujarat left Nitish camp and joined Sharad faction.
RJD supremo lalu Prasad took no time in hitting at the JD(U) and Nitish. “The JD(U) and the BJP will fight polls in Bihar separately. The two are going to end their alliance very soon. Their alliance is not stable and is on brink of break up,” said lalu sarcastically.
lalu’s remarks came in the wake of JD(U)’s reported poll preparation in all the 40 lok Sabha seats in Bihar. The party has decided to hold district-level workers conference from November 15 to 18. The party workers have been asked to strengthen the organisation down to booth level. The party has 3.85 lakh members, including 1.54 lakh active members.
Bihar JD(U) president Bashistha Narain Singh said, “In bid to strengthen party to ground level we are holding district level workers conferences in each district. To organise these conferences ten teams have been constituted. The workers will be given task to propagate Government’s campaigns against social ills like like liquor, dowry and child marriage.” All the teams are headed by the Ministers and MPs with Singh himself heading the team in Bhojpur and Buxar districts.
