last-ditch efforts to save the BJP-JD(U) alliance seem to have come a cropper. The break-up could just be a matter of time. The tie between the two strained further on Thursday with the JD(U) failing to secure an assurance from the BJP that Narendra Modi will not be projected as its PM candidate.
Former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari on Thursday made fresh bids to placate the JD(U) and called on its chief Sharad Yadav in Delhi. Yadav apparently told the BJP leader that only a clear assurance that Modi would not be projected as PM candidate could save the alliance now. He is understood to have reiterated the same to BJP chief Rajnath Singh, senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi and other BJP leaders who called him up during the day.
“NDA exists right now and we are taking efforts that how the situation that has taken a bad shape can be rectified,” Yadav, who is also the convener of the NDA, told reporters after the meeting.
While Yadav was engaged in a dialogue with the BJP leaders in Delhi, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar travelled to Katihar on Thursday to lead his Sewa Yatra. He told reporters in Patna that senior BJP leaders like lK Advani, Rajnath Singh and MM Joshi had called him to avert a split in the NDA and indicated that a federal front could take shape.
“Since we (Trinamool, BJD and JD-U) have a common cause, we are discussing our issues,” he said, adding, “I concur with Mamata Banerjee’s views that Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand have common problems and we should think about these together.”
Kumar left room for speculation with his statement that “it would be good if all these States collectively understand their problems and come together by forming a front.” “Though this exercise is at an early stage, the front could be formed in future if everything goes well,” he added.
The rise of the ‘Eastern Bloc’ — covering West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand — has received warm response from Samajwadi Party of Uttar Pradesh and TDP of Andhra Pradesh.
“TDP is ready to join the Federal Front proposed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, party chief N Chandrababu Naidu told reporters on Thursday. Naidu told the media that he was in touch with leaders of various regional parties, including Banerjee, over the formation of the proposed front. He said the TDP was always ready to work with non-UPA and non-NDA parties.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also echoed the need for a Third Front. Akhilesh said both the BJP as well as the Congress have failed to deliver at the Centre. “There are many issues on which the Congress and the BJP have been unsuccessful. The time has come for the nation to have a third front Government,” he said.
The camaraderie between these parties could spell trouble for the two poles of Indian politics — UPA and NDA. Even BJP leaders fear that the tone set by these regional groups could be detrimental to NDA’s expansion plans.
“All regional parties are banking on minority votes to put up a good show in the election. They are equally hopeful about reaping rich political dividend out of the strong anti-incumbency faced by the UPA. They consider both the BJP and the Congress as liability for them,” a top BJP leader told The Pioneer.
Nitish has summoned all MPs and MlAs of his party to Patna on Saturday to hold a meeting and assess the ground situation after BJP’s decision to elevate Modi as head of its Campaign Committee.
“We will clear our stand only after the (JD-U) meeting,” Sharad Yadav told The Pioneer. It is still not clear if this meeting will take place in Patna or in the national Capital.
Top 20 leaders of the JD(U) are expected to take part in this meeting and most of them have already gone public with their desire to break ties with the BJP.
On its part, the BJP has decided not to precipitate the crisis and share the blame with the JD(U) for breaking the alliance.Its leaders are almost certain about the eventuality, but have decided to speak only when the break-up is officially announced. In doing so, it will continue to retaliate every barb aimed at Modi.
“Can we choose JD(U) president or its other office bearersIJ likewise, no other party has any right to dictate us who should be given what post within the party,” Bihar BJP chief Mangal Pandey told reporters in Patna after a two-hour emergency meeting of State leaders.
"The political discourse (JD-U criticism of Modi) should have an element of civility," BJP spokesman Nirmala Sitharaman said in Delhi. She quickly added, "We feel this alliance will last. The people have voted for this alliance to take out Bihar from a jungleraj. Both the parties have a responsibility to respect this verdict of the people of that State."
In another significant development, Ministers belonging to the BJP did not attend their offices on Thursday. Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi is understood to have asked his officers not to accept any new file from Thursday onwards. Modi holds the portfolio of Finance Department in addition to other important departments like Commercial Taxes and Environment and Forest.