Patna: Bihar chief minister and JDU national president Nitish Kumar is scheduled to attend an event the BJP in Bihar is organising on June 7, to mark four years of the Narendra Modi government, in the backdrop of speculation that NDA partners JDU, LJP and RLSP are trying to flex their muscle ahead of the 2019 general elections.

BJP insiders say the event would put to rest all speculation and the NDA's unity would be exhibited before all those who are trying to find chinks in the alliance. "Just wait for the June 7 event," a senior BJP functionary said. "We will exhibit NDA unity and all the main leaders of the alliance will be there to celebrate four years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre."

Ridiculing reports that the JDU was trying to play big brother in Bihar ahead of the 2019 elections, the BJP functionary said: "The 2019 elections will be fought to form a government at the Centre and works of both the central and state government will be projected among voters to seek support. There is no confusion within the alliance on this issue as some are trying to project."

Asked about the JDU's claim that Nitish Kumar was the main face in Bihar, the BJP functionary said: "Who has denied it? We had an NDA government in Bihar from 2005 to 2013, under the leadership of Nitish, and the same was repeated in 2017 when he parted ways with the Grand Alliance and returned to the NDA fold."

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi too tried to send a similar message through one of his tweets on Monday where he said that the double engine government would seek people's support in Bihar on the faces of both the Prime Minister and chief minister.

BJP leaders also played down the issue of likely tussle that may be witnessed on the issue of seat-sharing among NDA constituents during the 2019 elections.

"Every party aspires to contest maximum number of seats in the elections. There is nothing wrong if any political party makes such a demand," said a senior BJP leader.

He pointed out that in any alliance, seat-sharing talks don't take place a year ahead of elections. "Such things are decided at an opportune moment and as far as seat-sharing in Bihar is concerned the top leadership will decide the same. There is nothing like muscle-flexing by NDA constituents as some of our political opponents are trying to portray," the BJP leader said.

Even JDU secretary general K.C. Tyagi toed a similar line. "Seat sharing is not an issue for us," he told The Telegraph over phone from Delhi.

Sushil slams Lalu

Sushil Modi hit out at Lalu and his family members saying RJD leaders should not be worried about his party's relationship with Nitish Kumar as Nitish enjoyed a 17-year partnership with the BJP before the NDA-II's formation. He said even in 2015, Lalu had accepted Nitish as a leader of the Grand Alliance out of compulsion.