Veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani’s decision to quit all major party posts triggered a major crisis in the National Democratic Alliance on Monday. Sharad Yadav, head of one of its key constituents, the Janata Dal (United), has called an urgent meeting to chart its next step, while senior JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi claimed that “the NDA is now on a ventilator”.
With the possible exit of the NDA’s “Atal-Advani” architects, the JD(U) has apparently started considering a possible exit from the alliance, with insiders saying it will not be “able to do business” with a BJP that is led by Narendra Modi.
Sources said the “wily” Mr Advani, in his bid to take on his own party, played the NDA card effectively, fully aware that the JD(U) perceives Mr Modi’s rise to be a major threat. While resigning from all key positions in the BJP, Mr Advani retained the post of NDA chairman.
The JD(U) is uncomfortable with Mr Modi’s rise not just because he poses a threat to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s chances for a bigger national role, but because he could also hit the party’s Muslim votebank in Bihar, nearly 20 per cent.
If Mr Advani moved out, the JD(U) could look at other options. Mr Sharad Yadav, who is also NDA’s convenor, admitted it faced a serious crisis as Mr Advani, along with former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee, were its two “architects”; and their exit from the political scene might compel his party to take a “fresh look” at its alliance with the BJP.
“The exit of Mr Advani is a political event of much larger proportions with consequences for others, including us. In the party meeting, which I have called, we will examine consequences and start fresh thinking,” Mr Yadav said. He said he was “shocked and hurt” by the sudden development involving Mr Advani.