JD-U may quit NDA

The Janata Dal-United accuse the BJP of “blowing coalition dharma to smithereens” over division of seats for assembly polls in Karnataka, reports Srinand Jha.

The NDA suffered a setback of sorts on Friday with the Janata Dal-United accusing the BJP of “blowing coalition dharma to smithereens” over division of seats for assembly polls in Karnataka.

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Piqued at the BJP’s “unilateral decision” to announce its first list of candidates with “sheer disregard to coalition principles,” JD-U chief Sharad Yadav hinted at the possibility of severing ties with the NDA. “The JD-U’s parliamentary party and national executive will decide on future course of action,” he said. The dates for the national executive will be decided on April 15.

In response, the BJP said it had only announced candidates for “sure” seats and accommodation of the JD-U as part of an alliance “is being still worked out”. Asked if it had put coalition ethics at stake by admitting a JD-U MLA into its fold, party leader Arun Jaitley said: “It is for a party to hold its strength together.”

The BJP and JD-U had jointly contested the 1999 and 2004 assembly polls. This time, the BJP has put up candidates in seats where the JD-U wanted to field its members.

(With inputs from Shekhar Iyer)