Patna, March 7: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today sought to scotch speculation that he could jettison the BJP and team up with other regional leaders for an alternative front.

“I am in the NDA and will remain in the NDA. Some media channels and newspapers, at times, make speculations to add spice to their reports and keep viewers and readers engaged. But the fact is that I have neither spoken to the Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, or to anyone else about launching a third or fourth front or anything like that. I did speak to (Bengal chief minister) Mamata Banerjee but it was in connection with opposing the NCTC (national counter-terrorism centre) on which she had gathered good information and had provided the same to us,” Nitish said.

The chief minister’s statement was aimed at setting at rest buzz doing the rounds that all was not well between the allies in Bihar.

Nitish patted his partner for its poll performance. “The BJP will form a government in some states (Punjab, Goa) for which it deserves congratulations,” he said.

Sources said some within the NDA were involved in behind-the-scenes machinations to create a rift between the JD(U) and BJP. For instance, the newly projected RSS man and BJP in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, Sanjay Joshi, attended a function of JD(U) rebels in Delhi.

The sources said Joshi, who had the “blessings” of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and BJP president Nitin Gadkari, was attempting to bring out the Bihar BJP, led by deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, from Nitish’s “shadow” and make it stand on its own by pampering social sections loyal to the JD(U).

But, the sources said, the less-than-impressive showing of the BJP has effectively clipped Joshi’s wings. “With the people rejecting most of the BJP candidates handpicked by Joshi at the behest of Gadkari, Joshi will find it hard to retain his own status within the party, leave alone meddle in Bihar affairs,” said a BJP leader.

Some sections of the JD(U) close to Nitish are happy that Sharad Yadav, the party’s national president, has been “downsized”. Sharad, these leaders said, had been instrumental in fielding over 200 candidates in Uttar Pradesh.

“He (Sharad) did it to strengthen his clout vis-à-vis Nitish,” said a senior JD(U) leader, adding: “He (Sharad) must have realised now that he has no takers in the states beyond Bihar and his position is subservient to Nitish.”