Patna:
Is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar going the Orissa way, heading for a split with its partner the JD (U)? The friction, it seems was triggered off by advertisements splashed in Patna papers during the BJP national executive meet in Patna, showing Narendra Modi holding hands with Nitish Kumar. Miffed at the ad, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cancelled a dinner for BJP leaders on June 12. (Read: After ad row, Nitish cancels dinner for BJP leaders)
On June 19, a rupees five crore cheque from Gujarat government for Kosi flood relief was also returned. The money was returned after local papers carried advertisements of how the BJP helped out with flood relief in Bihar, which Nitish Kumar felt was politicising the matter. (Read: Angry Nitish returns Gujarat's Kosi aid)
Modi's aid rejection did not go down well with the BJP leadership. And on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and BJP leader Sushil Modi cancelled his tour with the Chief Minister.
The two leaders were supposed to travel to Paliganj as part of the Vishwas Yatra, a pre-election exercise to showcase the achievements of the Bihar government over the last five years.
Due to the ongoing spat between Nitish and Modi, the BJP-JD(U) alliance in Bihar is now teetering on the edge of collapse. (Serious problems in BJP-JD(U) alliance in Bihar: Sources)
When NDTV asked Bihar BJP chief and former Union minister Dr CP Thakur on the issue, he said, "Actually we are also secular, not communalists. There is just a difference of opinion. Some misunderstandings took place between the two groups. One incident led to another incident. Nitish says both incidents happened on the same night so different stories are there. I think matter will be resolved."
But state Minister for Disaster Management and JD(U) leader Devesh Chandra Thakur said, "We should have been told, we should have been consulted. About photos of Nitish Kumar plastered all over and the money given for Kosi floods two years ago. That should not have been done in bad taste to keep boasting."
NDTV also asked Devesh Thakur that Narendra Modi has been with the BJP for over 15 years, why has he become an untouchable for JD (U) months before Assembly elections? He replied, "That's the question we are asking, for four and-a-half years this government has been running. We have no problems with the BJP in the state or the Centre. So, why this now. Narendra Modi may be a tall leader, but we don't understand what he's going to do achieve here."
Commenting on the latest development, Jai Narayan Vyas, spokesperson, Gujarat government, said, "The money was just lying there, which is now being returned. It's unfortunate, but then it couldn't be utilised, that's a fact. Gujarat would always reach out. We wish that never, never, never, any such contingency or exigency arises in any part of the country, but should it so happen any time, Gujarat would always, and BJP in Gujarat would always reach out to those in distress."
With elections in Bihar coming up in just a few months, the situation remains critical for the BJP and also for the JD(U) which doesn't want to be seen to be too close to a party with questionable secular credentials.
Reacting to the latest development, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha said, "Nitish Kumar is acting like a child. If Nitish wants to end coalition, he should make it clear."
"Nobody can stop Mr Modi from coming to Bihar, or any other state in India. People are free to go anywhere they please, so why wouldn't Narendra Modi come? He should come, and he will come. We will invite him," said Ashwani Chaubey, leader, BJP.
But amid tensions in Patna, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain went to meet JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav in New Delhi. After the meeting, both said all is well with their coalition.
"There is no problem with the coalition government, and the evidence for it is that we are participating in the elections together. We have fought the elections in Rajasthan together," Sharad Yadav said. (Read: Alliance with BJP will continue, says JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav)
However, BJP sources have told NDTV that the party is upset with Nitish Kumar. This has been conveyed by Shahnawaz Hussain when he met Sharad Yadav in the Capital today.
A final decision on the coalition will be taken when BJP chief Gadkari comes to Delhi on Monday.
Meanwhile, a day after Nitish returned the rupees five crore of Kosi relief money to Gujarat government, the Congress has accused the Bihar government of not using the flood relief funds properly.
On June 19, a rupees five crore cheque from Gujarat government for Kosi flood relief was also returned. The money was returned after local papers carried advertisements of how the BJP helped out with flood relief in Bihar, which Nitish Kumar felt was politicising the matter. (Read: Angry Nitish returns Gujarat's Kosi aid)
Modi's aid rejection did not go down well with the BJP leadership. And on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and BJP leader Sushil Modi cancelled his tour with the Chief Minister.
The two leaders were supposed to travel to Paliganj as part of the Vishwas Yatra, a pre-election exercise to showcase the achievements of the Bihar government over the last five years.
Due to the ongoing spat between Nitish and Modi, the BJP-JD(U) alliance in Bihar is now teetering on the edge of collapse. (Serious problems in BJP-JD(U) alliance in Bihar: Sources)
When NDTV asked Bihar BJP chief and former Union minister Dr CP Thakur on the issue, he said, "Actually we are also secular, not communalists. There is just a difference of opinion. Some misunderstandings took place between the two groups. One incident led to another incident. Nitish says both incidents happened on the same night so different stories are there. I think matter will be resolved."
But state Minister for Disaster Management and JD(U) leader Devesh Chandra Thakur said, "We should have been told, we should have been consulted. About photos of Nitish Kumar plastered all over and the money given for Kosi floods two years ago. That should not have been done in bad taste to keep boasting."
NDTV also asked Devesh Thakur that Narendra Modi has been with the BJP for over 15 years, why has he become an untouchable for JD (U) months before Assembly elections? He replied, "That's the question we are asking, for four and-a-half years this government has been running. We have no problems with the BJP in the state or the Centre. So, why this now. Narendra Modi may be a tall leader, but we don't understand what he's going to do achieve here."
Commenting on the latest development, Jai Narayan Vyas, spokesperson, Gujarat government, said, "The money was just lying there, which is now being returned. It's unfortunate, but then it couldn't be utilised, that's a fact. Gujarat would always reach out. We wish that never, never, never, any such contingency or exigency arises in any part of the country, but should it so happen any time, Gujarat would always, and BJP in Gujarat would always reach out to those in distress."
With elections in Bihar coming up in just a few months, the situation remains critical for the BJP and also for the JD(U) which doesn't want to be seen to be too close to a party with questionable secular credentials.
Reacting to the latest development, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha said, "Nitish Kumar is acting like a child. If Nitish wants to end coalition, he should make it clear."
"Nobody can stop Mr Modi from coming to Bihar, or any other state in India. People are free to go anywhere they please, so why wouldn't Narendra Modi come? He should come, and he will come. We will invite him," said Ashwani Chaubey, leader, BJP.
But amid tensions in Patna, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain went to meet JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav in New Delhi. After the meeting, both said all is well with their coalition.
"There is no problem with the coalition government, and the evidence for it is that we are participating in the elections together. We have fought the elections in Rajasthan together," Sharad Yadav said. (Read: Alliance with BJP will continue, says JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav)
However, BJP sources have told NDTV that the party is upset with Nitish Kumar. This has been conveyed by Shahnawaz Hussain when he met Sharad Yadav in the Capital today.
A final decision on the coalition will be taken when BJP chief Gadkari comes to Delhi on Monday.
Meanwhile, a day after Nitish returned the rupees five crore of Kosi relief money to Gujarat government, the Congress has accused the Bihar government of not using the flood relief funds properly.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
