Patna: The BJP ad, which showed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra holding hands with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seems to have stirred a major controversy for the Bihar alliance partners, BJP-JD(U).
Sources have told NDTV that there are serious problems in the alliance in Bihar.
Earlier, taking strong exception to the ad, the Bihar Chief Minister cancelled a dinner for BJP leader on Saturday. He has said his photograph has been used without his permission and he could even take legal action. (
Read & watch: Miffed at ad, Nitish cancels dinner for BJP leaders)
Nitish Kumar is not too happy about being shown to be so close to Modi, since it might upset his Muslim votebank, as the state is set for Assembly polls later in the year.
When asked about the reason behind dinner being cancelled, Nitish Kumar said, "Chodiye naa..." He tried to avoid cameras.
The fallout of the cancellation of dinner at the Chief Minister's residence is that senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu have called off their meeting with Nitish Kumar.
Modi has also expressed displeasure to BJP leaders over the ad fiasco.
The advertisement appeared in several newspapers, as Modi visited the state for the first time after Nitish Kumar became Chief Minister to attend the BJP's national executive.
Modi and Nitish were supposed to come face- to-face at a dinner hosted by Nitish at the chief minister's residence, fueling speculation that Nitish does not want to be seen with Modi on a public or political platform.
The controversy started when the BJP's two-day national executive kicked off in Patna on Saturday. One advertisement showed Modi and Nitish holding hands and Gujarat Chief Minister being welcomed to Bihar.
Commenting on the ad, the Bihar Chief Minister said, "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."
It's not the first time Nitish Kumar has expressed his discomfort about sharing a platform with the Gujarat Chief Minister. Just before the general elections, Nitish had said there was no need for Modi to campaign in Bihar, but just days later the two shared the dais at a rally in Ludhiana. (
Read: The tale of two chief ministers -- Modi blitz on Nitish land)
Election in Bihar is just months away and just in case the BJP uses Modi for campaigning, it may not go down well with its ally the JD(U) that's trying to consolidate the 15 per cent Muslim vote in its favour.
All senior party leaders arrived in the city for the brainstorming meet where they will discuss the strategy for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Bihar. (
Read: BJP meet in Bihar -- a test for Gadkari?)