After ad row, Nitish cancels dinner for BJP leaders

New Delhi: The 15-year-long partnership between the BJP and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United has run into some serious turbulence.

Furious about an advertisement released by the BJP that shows him holding hands with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Nitish has cancelled a dinner that he was to hold for BJP leaders on Saturday night.

Narendra Modi reportedly is also very upset and hurt by the ad fiasco. This comes months ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar.

It's war between the mascots of two allies. BJP's Narendra Modi and JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar are now pushing the 15-year-old alliance to the brink.

At the heart of the storm is an advertisement showing Modi and Nitish together.

Nitish rules Bihar with the BJP's support but has never let the ally field Modi in the state. In over a decade, the two were seen together just once, last year at a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rally in Ludhiana.

So, when that lone meeting lauding Modi appeared in print, just months before the Bihar elections, Nitish had to protect his secular image.

When asked about the reason behind dinner being cancelled, Nitish Kumar said, "Chodiye naa...." He tried to avoid cameras.

"If my photograph has been used in the advertisement. I have no information on it, my office does not know about it, no consent has been taken for it. So whatever legal action is possible we will take," said Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister.

As the controversy erupted, Nitish in a public rebuff cancelled a dinner for the BJP's top brass. The signal was that he is avoiding another meeting with Modi.

The BJP chose Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu to mollify Nitish but an angry Modi cried foul, told BJP leaders that Nitish cannot dictate terms.

Realising that peace talks with Nitish will hurt Modi's image and signal that the BJP is crawling before Nitish, the BJP withdrew its emissaries, claimed the dinner was never to be.

"It's incorrect to make Modi an issue," said Ravishankar Prasad, BJP Spokesperson.

Now whispers are on in the BJP that the advertisement is an alibi. Nitish is using it to execute a divorce plan by snubbing Modi, all along eyeing a possible future with the Congress.

This leaves the BJP in the lurch barely five months before the state elections.

So, the BJP top brass is now preparing a warning shot over Nitish's shoulder hinging its support to Nitish, to the controversy.

For Gadkari, a new tightrope walk begins, political logic dictates he should keep Nitish on his side. But the Sangh's dictat to strengthen ideology may push him to back Modi.

NDTV interviews Nitish Kumar in May 2009

Just before the general elections in May 2009, when NDTV's Barkha Dutt asked Nitish Kumar, "Would you share the stage with Narendra Modi?

Nitish said, "No, not at all."

Barkha Dutt: You would not share the stage...I was trying to say if there is any NDA rally?

Nitish Kumar: No, no, there is no need for that.