Patna, June 29: The BJP seems hell bent on discomfiting the Grand Alliance while its constituents try hard to cool down tempers over the presidential poll.

The party's Bankipore MLA and Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha state unit president Nitin Navin on Thursday urged the JDU to accord a warm welcome to NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind when he visits the state ahead of the election.

Since his nomination, Kovind has been touring states to solicit support. He has already visited Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

The date for his Bihar visit, his first after resigning as governor, has not been finalised yet. "We have still not been informed about the dates, but in all likelihood he would be visiting Bihar between July 7 and 15," a senior BJP leader told The Telegraph. He also said Kovind would be accorded a historic welcome by the party's Bihar unit.

Navin said his request to welcome Kovind was meant for all political parties, as Kovind was Bihar governor before becoming a presidential candidate and his rise was a matter of pride for the whole state.

Reacting to the appeal, JDU national general secretary Shyam Rajak said: "We have already announced our support for Kovind. All out MLAs and MPs would vote for him."

Asked whether JDU leaders would meet Kovind if called for such a meeting, Rajak said: "There is no point in asking such a question. We would definitely meet him if a meeting is held and we are invited."

The presidential election, votes for which would be cast on July 17, has stirred the political scene in Bihar. RJD chief Lalu Prasad has called the JDU's decision to support Kovind a "historic blunder".

JDU national president and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had explained the reason behind supporting Kovind and ruled out any possibility of stand him changing his stand on the issue.

A war of words ensued between the JDU and RJD, leaders of both camps using harsh words against each other. JDU national general secretary K.C. Tyagi had gone on to say that the JDU felt more comfortable when it was part of the NDA with the BJP.

Calm was restored after Lalu and Nitish reined in their party functionaries.

Though RJD and JDU leaders have not spoken against each other in the past three days, differences are very much visible.

Bihar's cooperative minister Alok Mehta (RJD) on Thursday said the upcoming presidential poll was a fight between Samvidhan (Constitution) and Sangh vidhan (Rules of RSS). "Everyone knows Kovind has a Sangh background," Alok said. "We have been appealing to all to support Meira Kumar as President."