Even as RJD and JD(U) reportedly agreed on seat sharing during a meeting between lalu Prasad and Sharad Yadav on Sunday, trouble appeared brewing in the NDA over various issues including the most important issue of leadership.
While Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha who heads Rashtriya lok Samata Party (RlSP) is getting over-ambitious to be projected as CM face of NDA, lok Janashakti Party of Ram Vilas Paswan is opposed to this suggestion. Bihar lJP president and Paswan's brother Pashupati Kumar Paras has put a condition that it is opposed to the entry of five leaders of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi into NDA.
The lJP's condition has put the BJP in a peculiar situation as the saffron party has almost given a green signal to Manjhi for alliance. "Those who deserted us in 2005 are traitors and we will oppose their rehabilitation in the NDA," said Paras. Among those five leaders include Former Minister Narendra Singh and his two legislators’ sons who are close aides of Manjhi.
On the issue of leadership Paswan, however, clarified that his party has no objection and condition. "We are ready to accept any A B C D who is decided by the BJP," said Paswan.
The RlSP is, however, adamant on this issue and pleading that Kushwaha be projected as CM probable. The party at its meeting at Vaishali adopted a resolution to this effect. This is the second time in a week that such resolution has been passed.
NDA sources claimed that Paswan's party is not very comfortable with Manjhi coming closer to the BJP but not opposing him openly for obvious reasons. But by putting up some conditions it has created problems for the BJP which is treading cautiously as the opposing alliance of RJD and JD (U) is teasing it for not declaring its leader.