Patna, May 29: NDA leaders had much to chew over at the dinner hosted by chief minister Nitish Kumar yesterday.
Officially, alliance bigwigs appeared smug and content, having had the night to sleep over the meal.
“All is well; there is absolutely nothing wrong in the National Democratic Alliance in Bihar,” state NDA convener Nandkishore Yadav told The Telegraph today, dismissing talk of “differences, bitterness and trust deficit” between the Janata Dal (United) and the BJP.
The vegetarian dinner at Nitish’s 1 Aney Marg home lasted four hours — from 7pm to 11pm. The meal was a simple fare of roti, rice, dal and seasonal vegetables.
What do senior leaders discuss over such a marathon dinner? Nandkishore wouldn’t give anything away. “Nothing serious,” he said. “We ate and met in a very convivial atmosphere. There was nothing much to be discussed for the NDA is as strong as ever.”
Sources, however, said that Nitish, otherwise known for his sobriety at such dos, had a stern message.
“The electorate has given the JD(U)-BJP alliance the common mandate to govern the state. There is hardly any scope for any minister — be it from the JD(U) or BJP — to deviate from the book,” sources present at the meeting quoted the chief minister as saying.
Deputy chief minister Sushil Modi and Nandkishore and other senior BJP leaders agreed, according to the source.
Health minister Ashwini Choubey and animal husbandry minister Giriraj Singh, known for publicly singing praises of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, were the reference points in Nitish’s remarks. Besides Modi and Nandkishore, the newly appointed BJP national membership drive chief, Radhamohan Singh, was present. From the JD(U), Nitish’s trusted MP, R.C.P. Singh, water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and power minister Vijendra Yadav attended.
The sources revealed that the BJP leaders agreed to Nitish’s “strongly worded plea” to rein in ministers who “deviate” from the brief. Recently, Choubey projected Narendra Modi as the future Prime minister at a Bihar Divas function at Surat, creating a piquant situation for the NDA in the state. Giriraj justified what Choubey said.
The sources also said that Choubey had denied projecting Modi as the Prime Minister and agreed not to do anything “detrimental” to the alliance when his senior party leaders broached the issue with him.
Nitish suggested Nandkishore hold NDA meetings at “regular intervals” to ensure better coordination between the BJP and JD(U) legislators and ministers and to “avoid” misgivings and doubts.
The top leaders of the alliance also agreed not to create situations that could vitiate the relationship. “It is rather an undeclared decision that the JD(U)-BJP alliance will break once the BJP officially declares Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. But the BJP leadership is still to do it,” said a senior BJP leader. “Why should the state BJP leaders jump the gun on Narendra Modi?”
The leader, a strong protagonist of the alliance, also pointed out that the BJP has already swallowed Nitish’s diktat to keep Narendra Modi out of successive election campaigns in Bihar. “Now, Nitishji simply wants his ministers to keep quiet on Narendra Modi in keeping with his declared stand on him (Modi) and also in keeping with the coalition dharma in Bihar. His wishes should be respected,” said a senior JD(U) leader.
Sources said leaders of both camps agreed on a “truce” — at least till Narendra Modi officially emerged as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. The truce, even if its is temporary, is likely to pave the way for filling the 12 Legislative Council seats to be shared in the ratio of 7:5 between the allies.
