Patna, Oct. 8: The JDU may have been in the NDA before, but the current ruling alliance in Bihar has a new power dynamic - a much more assertive BJP.

Now, the BJP is not ready to play docile partner as it did in the earlier edition of the alliance. It is much more keen on playing a proactive role, both BJP and JDU leaders told The Telegraph in private conversations.

'The difference in functioning, when compared to the previous edition of the alliance, is bound to be there,' said a BJP leader.

Another senior state BJP leader was more upfront: 'In the earlier edition of the NDA government in Bihar, our party used to have very little say in the overall functioning of government. It used to be a one-man show (read Nitish all the way) but now our ministers are more assertive and they do ensure that the party leaders are taken into confidence before any major decision is taken.'

The senior BJP leader cited an example.

Recently, during a group clash incidents in an eastern Bihar district, the government officials wanted to lodge cases against some BJP sympathisers under sections dealing with riots. But when the BJP leaders put their foot down, asserting that it was nothing but victimisation of their sympathisers, the officials were directed to lodge cases under sections related to preventing a government official from doing his official duty.

The most pleasing part of the change, the BJP leader said, smiling, was that JDU was not showing any resistance in accepting the reality that BJP in its current avatar is not a weak force willing to play second fiddle in the alliance.

'No one can deny that the BJP is now a stronger party than it used to be when we were in alliance with it till 2013,' admitted a JDU functionary, adding: 'Even though we are more accommodative in running the government this time, it shouldn't be construed as our weakness.'

To buttress his claim, the JDU leader said that even though the party changed the alliance partner midway, no compromise was made on major issues like the seven resolves and prohibition even though BJP leaders had expressed reservations on these issues when they were in Opposition.

Another JDU leader said that both the JDU and the BJP were in know of the political reality of Bihar and hence were willing to be accommodative keeping future electoral interests in mind.

'It is a well-known fact that division of votes of these two parties would directly benefit the RJD and Congress and the BJP central leadership would never want this with the next general elections less than two years away,' the JDU leader explained.

Amid the new alliance power dynamics, the BJP party is also keeping a close tab on the functioning of its ministers, especially those handling portfolios for the first time.

'We have 11 such ministers and they are regularly briefed about the functioning of the government by senior leaders,' a senior BJP leader said. 'Also, the party functionaries keep a tab on the performance of the minister and the state and the central leadership gets regular feedback about the performance of these ministers.'

One of the new BJP ministers said after almost every cabinet meeting they are briefed about the functioning of the government and also about the precautions they need to take while running their departments.