JD(U) to BJP: Follow coalition dharma

While terming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) an old friend, the Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), leadership today accused it of not following "coalition dharma".

It emphasised it wouldn't alter its secular credentials.

The prominence given to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi within the BJP has irked the JD(U) leadership; it wants more clarity on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s prime ministerial candidate. JD(U) leaders feel the NDA should choose a secular candidate. BJP had not adopted any resolution to project Modi as the prime ministerial candidate, they said. They clarified Bihar Chief Minister and party leader Nitish Kumar was not in the race for the prime minister's post.

"We believe Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had failed to perform his duties as head of the state during 2002 communal riots. JD(U) is a secular party and nobody should have any doubt about our secular credentials," said K C Tyagi, secretary general of JD(U).

"After the 13-day government, BJP came to power with the support of our leaders in 1998, only after it had accepted to abide by the court judgment on the Ram temple dispute in Ayodhya. BJP got 180 seats in the elections," Tyagi said.

Today, the first day of the party's two-day national executive meeting here, Tyagi said, "BJP is an old friend. But it should follow coalition dharma with its alliance partners. BJP leaders are supporting rebel candidates against JD(U) candidates during elections in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Jharkhand. We will contest alone in Karnataka. Just as BJP has no differences with NDA allies Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal, it shouldn't work against JD(U), too."