Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee with JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi in Calcutta on Wednesday. (PTI)

New Delhi, June 12: The BJP made it clear it will not take the initiative of calling off its alliance with the Janata Dal (United) because such a step would amount to a “betrayal” of the mandate they won together in the last Bihar election and the “faith and trust” people had reposed in them to give a government that would last its term.

“As many as 10.5 crore people of Bihar voted for our alliance and want it to continue because with great difficulty, the BJP and the Dal (United) managed to put the state on the fast growth track. In a democracy, it becomes imperative to respect people’s sentiments. Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation of the NDA coalition and, therefore, it is incumbent on us to keep it intact,” stated BJP spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP, Shahnawaz Hussain.

Hussain made it clear that Narendra Modi’s anointment as the national campaign committee chief was “non-negotiable” and he and the BJP president, Rajnath Singh, will together “conduct an effective campaign to liberate the country from the Congress”.

Hussain stressed Modi’s anointment was an “internal” decision and the Dal (United) could not dictate who should be appointed on the BJP’s panels.

Hardening the BJP’s stance against the Dal (United), Hussain, in a press briefing today, pointed out the Bihar alliance was cemented and nurtured through the years despite Modi. “Modi was a national secretary when the Dal (United) teamed up with the BJP. The alliance continued even when he was the CM. So what is the provocation?” asked Hussain.

Sources said Rajnath had not contacted chief minister Nitish Kumar or the Dal (United) president, Sharad Yadav, after the alliance was beset with trouble. Nor did Rajnath authorise any other person to work the phone lines.

However, veteran L.K. Advani unilaterally called Nitish and Sharad. It is learnt that Advani told them both the alliance must be retained as it was “mutually beneficial” to both.

Asked if Advani had assured the Dal leaders that Modi would not be the BJP’s candidate for Prime Minister in 2014, Sharad told The Telegraph: “It is improper to disclose a private conversation. I was speaking to Advaniji after a long time.”

BJP sources emphasised there was “no way” Advani could have given an assurance to the Dal (United) leaders on his own, without consulting his party colleagues. “The talk (with Advani) was satisfactory,” said Sharad but was mum on whether it would lead to an early resolution of the ongoing tension.

Sharad admitted that the latest war of words was triggered by the Dal (United)’s defeat in Maharajganj, the BJP’s alleged refusal to cooperate and Advani’s resignation.

When he was reminded that the Advani-inspired crisis had blown over after he withdrew his resignation on Tuesday, Sharad said: “Yes, but we are not aware of what went on behind the scenes and what their implications could be.”

Privately, BJP sources disapproved Advani’s move and said if he was assured that he would be taken on board when critical decisions were clinched, he too ought to inform party leaders before intervening with an ally.