Patna, Sept. 18: The BJP’s state unit seems to have developed cold feet for the likes of Yogi Adityanath and Sakshi Maharaj — known for their hate speech — after the party’s drubbing in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls.

“One does not have to agree with everything a party MP says,” said BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, stressing that he had never heard the term “love jihad” from either Narendra Modi or Rajnath Singh.

“We do not oppose inter-religion marriages. But we oppose marriages in which there is a design to convert one’s religion,” he said.

With general elections to the Assembly just 15 months away and the party facing a formidable opposition in the form of a grand alliance between the RJD, JDU and Congress, the state unit of the BJP could oppose the entry of the likes of Yogi Adityanath for campaigning.

Officially, they declare the party high command decides who will campaign. But off the record, the state leadership is reluctant to allow Yogi Adityanath.

“Bihar also has a substantial Muslim population. We must not have them voting aggressively against us,” said a senior leader of the party.

The party cited the boomerang effect BJP leader Giriraj Singh’s statement on the eve of third round of polling had on Lok Sabha polls in Bihar.

Giriraj (now Nawada MP) had said that those opposed to Modi would have to go to Pakistan after the elections.

Though senior BJP leaders distanced themselves from the statement, the party did not win even one of seven seats that went to the polls two days after his controversial statement.

The party is now advocating a soft line towards Muslims and in recent days several Muslim leaders, like former MP Monajir Hassan and Akhlakh Ahmad, have joined its ranks.

The party is also quick to point out that despite a defeat in Bhagalpur, a section of Muslims voted for its candidate Shahnawaz Hussain in the Lok Sabha polls.

Party insiders said it would give more tickets than before to Muslim candidates in the Assembly polls. “But all our efforts to lure Muslims could get whitewashed if anybody makes a hate speech.”

A section of Muslims voted for BJP candidates in the 2010 Assembly polls when the party was in alliance with the JDU. A Muslim candidate the party had fielded in Purnea even got elected.

Till that election, Nitish was successful in convincing the BJP leadership to keep then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi away from the state. But, as prime minister, Modi is bound to campaign in Bihar.

“But ever since the Lok Sabha polls, Modi’s image has changed (he has become even more acceptable),” claimed a BJP leader.

The state unit of the BJP is already in crisis with senior leaders, including Patna Sahib MP Shatrughan Sinha, questioning Sushil Kumar Modi’s leadership after the setback the party suffered in the by-polls in Bihar.

State party chief Mangal Pandey appealed to all party leaders not to make public statements on the party, but to raise issues at party forums. The JDU is delighted at the contradictions coming out of its rival’s camp.

“What Sushil Kumar Modi has to say about Jogi Adityanath is an internal matter of the BJP. But we are very encouraged by the contradictions coming out of the party. We hope this continues so that we can sweep the next Assembly polls,” chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said.

In a related development, JDU spokesperson Ajay Alok on Thursday sarcastically attacked former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi and asked his fellow party men not to criticise him as he deserve sympathy more than criticism.

The JDU leader said Sushil Kumar Modi was in “deep agony and depression” and effort should be made to “revive him as his leadership skill and ability though earlier was being questioned by leaders like C.P. Thakur and Prem Kumar”.

“Now even leaders like Shatrughan Sinha can also challenge him show the willingness to take the leadership of BJP in Bihar,” he added.

In a swipe, Alok also said he had understood his sense of humiliation and despair so he has all sympathy for Modi.

By-election voting

Over 80 per cent voters had exercised their franchise till 3pm for the bypoll of Siwan Legislative Council seat on Thursday.

Eight candidates are in the fray for the by-election in which Ajay Singh of the JDU is pitted against Tunna Ji Pandey of the BJP.

Two MPs, eight MLAs, half a dozen members of legislative council, 293 mukhiyas, 4,056 ward members, 65 ward councillors are voters for the seat, which comes under the local body quota and the result will be announced on September 22.