The revolt within the BJP in Bihar worsened on Monday as some of the party’s rebel MLAs opposed to senior leader Sushil Kumar Modi and protesting the suspension of an MLA critical of him came out in open support of chief minister and JD(U) stalwart Nitish Kumar.
A day after Bihar BJP president Mangal Pandey suspended MLA Amarnath Gami for his scathing public criticism of former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, at least two BJP legislators — Vijay Kumar Mishra and Rana Gangeshwar Singh — shocked the party by expressing solidarity with Mr Gami and displaying open confidence in Mr Kumar’s leadership. The three rebel MLAs also said at least a dozen other BJP legislators shared their views and felt suffocated.
Mr Singh, the MLA from Mohiuddinnagar in Samastipur district, said he preferred Mr Kumar to Mr Narendra Modi as India’s next PM and called upon Bihar’s people to vote for the JD(U) in the 2014 LS polls to help Mr Kumar become PM.
“There is no internal democracy in the state BJP. Hayaghat MLA Gami’s suspension is extremely unfortunate,” said Mr Singh. “The party has become too adamant on Narendra Modi while the need of the hour is to bring Nitish Kumar back into the NDA. I have no hesitation in saying openly that I am with Nitish Kumar,” he added.
“Bihar’s people must vote for the JD(U) in the LS polls to ensure the party wins at least 30 (out of a total 40) seats so that Nitish Kumar can become PM,” said the rebel MLA in comments, that, according to BJP sources, increased his chances of getting suspended.