Nitish may avoid LK Advani's yatra

Bihar chief minister and key BJP ally Nitish Kumar is unlikely to be associated with LK Advani’s anti-corruption rath yatra the saffron party leader plans to launch from Bihar next month.

Bihar chief minister and key BJP ally Nitish Kumar is unlikely to be associated with LK Advani’s anti-corruption rath yatra the saffron party leader plans to launch from Bihar next month.

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“Why should Nitish Kumar or anyone from the JD(U) go suo motu for a BJP political event?” Janata Dal (United) leader Shivanand Tiwari told HT on Wednesday.

A central BJP leader explained, “Advani’s yatras create discomfort among Muslims due to memories of the Ram rath yatras. If Nitish Kumar were to back this yatra, his detractors will say that while Lalu (Prasad) had stopped Advani’s yatra, Nitish flagged it off.”

Then there’s the Narendra Modi factor. “When BJP CMs reach Bihar for the launch, will Narendra Modi come? Obviously, Nitish will have to factor this in,” he said.