A sense of suspicion has crept into the BJP leadership about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s plans for 2014, even as the party remains confident about sorting out issues with its “old ally”.
As the JD(U) prepares to send a message to the BJP on clearing the ambiguity over NDA’s prime ministerial candidate, BJP chief Rajnath Singh said, “It (JD-U) is a very old ally and if there are any issues then we will sit together and find a solution to it.”
This is BJP’s stated position on the PM candidate issue, but coming from Singh when the JD(U) is hardening its position, the remarks also signalled BJP’s readiness to discuss Modi issue with the Bihar-based party to keep alive their long standing alliance.
At a time when BJP leaders are sending overtures to prospective allies like TMC, AIADMK and BJD, losing a long time ally may not be favoured by many within the ranks. A section of the BJP top brass is also opposed to Modi becoming the PM candidate as they fear this will scare away some possible allies. They fancy their own chances in such a scenario.
However, sections within the BJP also fear that Kumar would certainly snap ties with the BJP in case it projects Modi as PM candidate. “Nitish has tied himself in knots. He has left little room for himself. Modi’s popularity among BJP cadre is immense and there could be a backlash if we decide otherwise. If we put our money on Modi, it could be at the cost of losing an ally,” a senior BJP leader involved in Bihar affairs said.
Sources claimed Rajnath Singh had reached out to Nitish Kumar (and held a meeting with the CM at his residence) and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav on Thursday night requesting them not to set any “deadline” for the BJP to pick up its PM candidate. Singh had also assured the JD(U) brass that any decision on NDA’s PM candidate would be taken collectively and at an appropriate time.
The Bihar Chief Minister had dinner at BJP leader Arun Jaitley’s residence. “Meeting to hoti rehti hai (meetings keep happening),” Kumar said after his closed door discussion with the senior BJP leader.