Cracks between the JD(U) and BJP continued to widen with the saffron brigade making clear its intention to launch Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in Bihar for its election campaign. “Modi will campaign in Bihar if the state units wants him,” BJP spokesperson and Bihar leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy declared on Monday. Assembly
polls are scheduled in Bihar in October-November. Meanwhile, in a bid to drive a wedge between the allies, the Congress said that the differences show that the NDA has collapsed.
An advertisement in a local daily in Bihar showing state chief minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar holding hands with Mr Modi created a political furore, with Mr Kumar ordering a raid on the premises of the agency responsible for the advertisement. Mr Rudy claimed the advertisements were issued by “some social activists” to highlight Mr Modi’s first visit to the state since 2001 and the photograph was not fictitious.
After the advertisement appeared, the Bihar chief minister also cancelled the dinner which he had hosted for BJP leaders who had gathered in Patna for the party’ national executive meet. Mr Kumar, wary of losing Muslim votes, had also refused to attend the Bihar Swabhiman Rally where he would had to share the platform with Mr Modi, a Hindutva icon.
Mr Kumar had also strongly objected to the Gujarat government’s claim that it had provided aid to Bihar after the Kosi floods, saying it was an “uncivilised” comment and he was willing to return the relief money. Though both the JD(U) and BJP later denied that the incident created any rift between the NDA partners, BJP sources disclosed its top leadership was left embarrassed after the controversy which overshadowed BJP’s national executive. BJP sources said a section within the party was also furious over Mr Kumar’s reaction to the entire episode, which they felt was uncalled for.
Meanwhile, hitting back at Mr Modi for his comments on its chief Sonia Gandhi, the Congress on Monday said that the very presence of the saffron leader in Patna proved that the BJP has lost one its main ally.
Speaking to reporters here, AICC spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said, “Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s refusal to share dais with his Gujarat counterpart amply highlighted the final and complete collapse of the erstwhile NDA, as the BJP has lost one of its most important allies.”
Ms Natarajan said Mr Kumar’s reaction speaks of “the anger and distrust people of India feel for Modi”. She said the incident is an ample proof of “the fact that the entire country outside Gujarat has rejected Modi and his agenda”.
Meanwhile, AICC general secretary and in-charge of Bihar Mr Mukul Wasnik took a swipe at Mr Kumar by saying that there was “no difference between the BJP and Mr Modi” and the poster controversy was only to fool people.
“He (Nitish) has worked with the BJP for the last four-and-a-half years. There is no difference between the BJP and Modi... This (ad controversy) was to fool the people of the state,” Mr Wasnik said.