Not good for NDA’s health, says ally JD(U)
lK Advani’s resignation from all party posts has only complicated matters for the BJP-JD(U) alliance. The two NDA partners are already at odds over the possibility of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi being made the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate in the 2014 general elections.
Though the JD(U) described Modi’s anointment as the party campaign panel chief as an “internal matter” of the BJP, it termed Advani’s resignation as a “serious issue” and “not good for NDA’s health”, an apparent indication about its rethinking on continuing the alliance with the BJP in such a scenario.
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said his party will meet to review the latest developments.”I am deeply saddened by the resignation of Advani because the NDA was forged with the efforts of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani. He (Advani) is also the working president and Vajpayee is not keeping well,” Yadav said here.
“So his resignation in my opinion is a serious issue and we will convene our own party meeting to discuss the matter,” said Yadav, who is also the NDA convener.
All senior JD(U) leaders — including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar — were apparently disturbed over the elevation of the Gujarat strongman in the BJP. Advani’s resignation could further strain the BJP’s relations with the JD(U) as the latter finds itself in a fix over the latest developments in its ally’s camp, taking place in a quick succession.
Nitish has always been highly critical of Modi, casting aspersions on his secular credentials now and then though without naming him. After his weekly Janata Darbar at his official residence in Patna on Monday, Nitish Kumar told reporters that his party leaders have seen all reports on Modi’s elevation and are considering these matters with all the seriousness.
“We have taken cognisance of the development and will give our response to the BJP very soon. Wait, we will fix the right time for our response and we also have all the prerogatives to reach at our own decision,” Nitish remarked.
Refusing to entertain further queries on Modi’s elevation, Nitish said that the new situation emerging from the latest development will be discussed in full details by considering all the aspects at the party forum.
Nitish also denied reports appearing in a section of media that BJP president Rajnath Singh had any discussion with him before the announcement of Modi`s elevation was made.
JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi said Advani has been “humiliated” and “NDA is now on ventilator support” and “it will be difficult for us” to continue to be in NDA.
JD(U) MP Shivanand Tiwari said that it is an irony that Advani who built the BJP from scratches has been treated in such a way by the young leadership of the party. He said that the elevation of Modi as the election campaign panel chief also demonstrates that the BJP has no care for accommodating the sentiments of the JD(U).
He also wondered why Advani resigned from all party posts if Modi had really taken blessings from the party patriarch for his appointment as the campaign committee chief. Tiwari argued that Modi will emerge as a strong claimant to the post of Prime Minister if the NDA romped to victory in the 2014 lok Sabha election.
Modi will claim that he should be given the top political post of the country as the NDA could stage a comeback to the power on the strength of his “successful” campaigning in various parts of the country for the 2014 lok Sabha election, the JD (U) leader added.
Tiwari said that the young BJP leaders even did not pay any respect to Advani while rushing through the elevation of Modi, an act which is against the values enshrined in the Indian tradition.