Won't ally with BJP if Modi projected as PM candidate: Nitish Kumar

Has already asked BJP leadership to name Prime Ministerial candidate of NDA so that there is no ambiguity

Annoyed by the growing influence of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi within Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his Prime Ministerial ambitions that are no longer hidden, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has told members of Janata Dal (United) that the party will not continue to be in alliance if the senior BJP leader is projected as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Kumar has already asked the BJP leadership to name the Prime Ministerial candidate of NDA so that there is no ambiguity on the name before going for the Lok Sabha election. Kumar is vehemently opposed to Modi and has blocked all efforts by Gujarat chief minister to enter Bihar.

Senior leaders of JD(U) elaborated that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar believes that Modi is involved in divisive politics and JD(U) should be ready to form the state government on its own if BJP chooses promote Modi as the PM candidate of the alliance. A strong section within JD(U) is pushing Nitish Kumar to break alliance with BJP since the state government has the required numbers to form a government in the state.  

“The two day national executive during the weekend is being held in Delhi only to send a strong message that JD(U) will not accept Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi at the top post. Senior leaders of JD(U) will discuss the ongoing political situation in the country and the future course of action within NDA,” said a senior JD(U) leader close to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Interestingly, during discussions with several senior members of JD(U), the Bihar chief minister has told party leaders that JD(U) does not have any problems with BJP and the alliance has served both the party well in the 16 year long association. BJP and JD(U) alliance has been in government in Bihar for the last 7 years.

Although JD(U) President Sharad Yadav doesn’t want the alliance with BJP to fall apart, party leaders indicated that the final decision will be made by Nitish Kumar.

Well aware of the stand taken by the Bihar chief minister, senior leaders of the BJP from Bihar admit that Nitish Kumar will break the alliance if Modi is made the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party. Kumar is in favour of naming LK Advani the Prime Ministerial candidate. BJP had named Advani as the Prime Ministerial candidate of NDA during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections but the opposition party failed to secure enough seats to form the government at centre.      

Senior leaders BJP in Bihar suspect that Kumar has taken an anti-Narendra Modi stand not only to secure the 16% vote share of minorities but also to stop shifting of this large chunk of votes in favour of former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD or the Congress party which is in disarray in Bihar.

The BJP leadership is also not denying that Kumar himself has Prime Ministerial ambitions because the Bihar chief minister was recently seen trying to gather support of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik by demanding special benefits for all the three states during his rally in Delhi on March 17. Kumar had clearly stated during the rally that JD(U) will try to play a crucial role in government formation after the Lok Sabha elections. Bihar has a total of 40 Lok Sabha seats.

Political Party	Number of seats in Assembly
Janata Dal (United)	118
Bhartiya Janata Party	91
RJD	22
Congress	4
LJP	1
Independents	6
Total	242

^{* Halfway mark in assembly is 122
** Total number of seats in Bihar assembly is 243 including Speaker}