New Delhi:
Minutes after the BJP's most senior leader LK Advani resigned from his array of party posts, an important ally, the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) is driving home the challenge the BJP has signed up for by choosing Narendra Modi to head the party's campaign in the national elections. (Full coverage)
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav described Mr Advani's decision as detrimental to "the health of the NDA." (Who said what)
"It is tough for us to remain part of the NDA now that the BJP's tallest leader is gone," said JD(U) leader KC Tyagi to NDTV, referring to the National Democratic Alliance, the coalition of nine parties anchored by the BJP. With 20 Lok Sabha seats, the JD(U) is the BJP's biggest partner.
"It will be difficult to deal with new members if founding members are gone," Mr Tyagi said, in a barely-disguised reference to Mr Modi, who was on Sunday appointed the head of the BJP's election committee despite opposition from Mr Advani.
Like the Janata Dal (United), Mr Advani's ward is allegedly concerned that the new post for Mr Modi will lead to his eventual selection as the party's prime ministerial candidate.
If that happens, the JD(U) has said it will end its collaboration with the BJP. Its leaders, like other critics of Mr Modi, accuse the chief minister of not doing enough to stop the riots in his home state in 2002, in which hundreds of Muslims were killed.
Mr Advani, who is 85, had reportedly told BJP president Rajnath Singh that if Mr Modi becomes the face of the party, the BJP will have to expend its energy on defending the chief minister's leadership during the riots. That will allow the ruling Congress to shift the focus from a robust array of corruption scandals that have left it embarrassed.
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav described Mr Advani's decision as detrimental to "the health of the NDA." (Who said what)
"It is tough for us to remain part of the NDA now that the BJP's tallest leader is gone," said JD(U) leader KC Tyagi to NDTV, referring to the National Democratic Alliance, the coalition of nine parties anchored by the BJP. With 20 Lok Sabha seats, the JD(U) is the BJP's biggest partner.
"It will be difficult to deal with new members if founding members are gone," Mr Tyagi said, in a barely-disguised reference to Mr Modi, who was on Sunday appointed the head of the BJP's election committee despite opposition from Mr Advani.
Like the Janata Dal (United), Mr Advani's ward is allegedly concerned that the new post for Mr Modi will lead to his eventual selection as the party's prime ministerial candidate.
If that happens, the JD(U) has said it will end its collaboration with the BJP. Its leaders, like other critics of Mr Modi, accuse the chief minister of not doing enough to stop the riots in his home state in 2002, in which hundreds of Muslims were killed.
Mr Advani, who is 85, had reportedly told BJP president Rajnath Singh that if Mr Modi becomes the face of the party, the BJP will have to expend its energy on defending the chief minister's leadership during the riots. That will allow the ruling Congress to shift the focus from a robust array of corruption scandals that have left it embarrassed.
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