Patna, June 9: The state BJP leaders today unleashed their affection for Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in public, doubling the discomfiture of chief minister Nitish Kumar after the JD(U)’s drubbing in the Maharjganj bypoll.
Breaking the unofficial gag order over expressing their liking for Modi because of Nitish’s antipathy towards the latter, several BJP leaders hailed the Gujarat chief minister’s elevation as chairman of the party’s election campaign committee for the 2014 polls — a move considered just short of making him the prime ministerial candidate. A sense of freedom prevailed among the BJP leaders, as they broke into celebrations at the party office here after the development.
The influence of Nitish on the state BJP was so dominating so far that the party did not encourage mentioning the name of Modi from public platforms. “But after this, nobody will be able to stop us from expressing our views on the Gujarat chief minister,” said a BJP office-bearer, indicating that his party was ready to test the JD(U)’s water in Bihar.
Nitish and Modi share strained relationship since 2010 when the former returned Rs 5 crore the Gujarat government had given after the Kosi deluge and called off the dinner for the BJP leaders coming to Patna for the national executive meet.
After today’s development in Panaji, the BJP hardliners like health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey spoilt no time in stepping up their aggression. “Narendra Modi will be the Prime Minister and all allies should support him,” he said.
Another MLA candidly said: “The time for the BJP to play second fiddle to Nitish Kumar is over.” Pro-Narendra Modi supporters like Choubey were happy to note that even BJP leaders eager to pacify Nitish quickly fell in line. Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who strongly advocated the continuation of the BJP-JD(U) alliance, tweeted photographs of himself talking to Narendra Modi today.
The BJP state president, Mangal Pandey, a close follower of the deputy chief minister, followed suit by issuing a statement welcoming the development. He also announced that the Gujarat chief minister had accepted the invitation of addressing the Hunkar Rally scheduled to be held in Gandhi Maidan in October. Not long ago, he refused to entertain questions on Narendra Modi.
While the unshackled BJP workers celebrated, the state JD(U) office sported a deserted look. A few JD(U) leaders mumbled “Modi’s elevation was an internal affair of the BJP”, as did the party president.
“What the BJP decides is that party's internal matter. Whom they make the party president or chairman of a particular committee in their party is what concerns them. He (Modi) has not become the NDA’s campaign committee chairman,” JD(U) president Sharad Yadav told PTI from Chennai.
Yadav, who is also the NDA convener, said the alliance functioned for 17 years according to its national agenda and “whoever becomes the prime ministerial candidate has to accept that national agenda”.
Several JD(U) leaders differ, though. Some of them are seeing today’s development as the second defeat of Nitish within a week after his party’s debacle in the Maharajganj bypoll. He has been out of Patna since June 5 — the day his party suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the RJD in Maharajganj.
“This is actually the second defeat within a week. Now Nitishji will have to fight both Lalu Prasad and Narendra Modi. We have already conceded ground by accepting that the Gujarat chief minister will visit Bihar for campaigning for the BJP,” said a JD(U) MLA, wondering if his party could wait till December to snap ties with the BJP.
The JD(U) in its national executive meet had set December deadline for the announcement of the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate.
Against this backdrop, the BJP appears to have started flexing its muscles. Stressing that allies would automatically come if the party performs well in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said: “Allies come to us on the basis of our strength.”
According to BJP sources, Narendra Modi’s interaction with Bihar would start much before the Hunkar Rally on October 27. “He has expressed his desire to have an interaction with the Bihar BJP leaders and is likely to hold one with 500 party leaders through teleconferencing,” said a senior BJP leader, hinting at a tough time for Nitish in the future.
The loss in Maharajganj appears to have made Nitish aware of the consequences of losing an alliance partner in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress is reported to have renewed its option of alliance with Lalu after the bypoll.
Also, snapping of ties with the BJP would means loss of resources like choppers for campaigning and cadres who manage booths. “But Nitish has committed himself to a secular prime ministerial candidate. He would not like to be remembered as a man who did not stick to his word,” said a JD(U) MP.
