Bihar decision on hold; BJP divided on Nitish yatra

The central and Bihar leaders of the BJP held brief consultations on Thursday on the BJP-JD(U) alliance, but postponed a final decision in view of the deaths of two state leaders, Planning Minister Sudha Shrivastav of JD(U) and former Union Minister Digvijay Singh, reports Vikas Pathak.

The central and Bihar leaders of the BJP held brief consultations on Thursday on the BJP-JD(U) alliance, but postponed a final decision in view of the deaths of two state leaders, Planning Minister Sudha Shrivastav of JD(U) and former Union Minister Digvijay Singh.

HT Image

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said that in view of the two deaths, talks have been put off for two days. “There is no instruction from the central leadership to state leadership,” he said.

He, however, added that “cordial communication” was on with JD(U).

“We want to deepen ties for the development of Bihar,” he said, indicating that the BJP favours the continuation of the alliance. “The mutual lack of confidence has to be changed. Avishwas ko vishwas mein badalne mein hum prayasrat hai (We are trying to convert the lack of confidence into confidence)”.

It is possible that Shrivastav’s funeral on Friday may provide an occasion for the parties’ leaders to come face-to-face.

While one BJP leader claimed that JD(U) leaders had called him to say that the two parties should work together, there was another view that the BJP should stand up to JD(U)’s increasingly overbearing attitude.

“There is a widespread mood among Bihar state leaders that Sushil Modi should not join Kumar’s yatra,” said a Bihar BJP leader.

But Hussain said that the Yatra had not come up for discussion in the shokakul mahaul (atmosphere of condolence).

BJP leader L.K. Advani, national president Nitin Gadkari, Bihar deputy CM Sushil Modi and state BJP chief C.P. Thakur were present at the meet.