Growing cracks are appearing in the NDA with its constituents taking different positions on key issues both inside and outside Parliament.
While the JD(U) and the Shiv Sena took a line different from that of the BJP in the presidential election and had voted for UPA-supported nominee Pranab Mukherjee, the JD(U) backed reservation in promotions for SCs and STs in government jobs inside Parliament. However, the Shiv Sena opposed it openly. The JD(U) and the Shiromani Akali Dal had reportedly wanted a debate on the coal block allocation in the two Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session at a time when their senior ally, the BJP, was fighting a political battle against the Manmohan Singh government in Parliament. It had log jammed Parliament for nearly two weeks.
And the issue of the prime ministerial candidate has virtually divided the NDA.
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has killed three birds with one stone by suggesting that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, should be declared as prime ministerial candidate.
His statement has virtually rejected the PM aspirants — Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, a non UPA leader pointed out.
If Mr Modi is unacceptable to Mr Nitish Kumar, the latter also cannot become Prime Minister without the support of either the BJP or the Congress. But such governments are always shortlived if one goes by the history. Now, it will be interesting to see whether the RSS backs Ms Swaraj for the top post. The NDA has not been able to expand for different reasons. While the Biju Janata Dal is not keen to return to the NDA, the AIADMK has yet to make up its mind.