BJP MLAs skip Bihar cabinet meet, Sharad says all is well

Ahead of the Assembly elections, the squabble between the ruling coalition partners in Bihar, the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), refuses to die down.

In the first cabinet meet after the spat between the chief minister and the BJP brass over an advertisement featuring Kumar with Narendra Modi, four BJP ministers, including deputy chief minister Sushil Modi, remained absent.

The BJP, however, played down the incident saying all the four members had to rush to Delhi this morning to attend the core committee meeting convened by party president Nitin Gadkari.

After Kumar had publicly denounced the BJP for publishing the advertisement and cancelled a dinner he was hosting for his alliance partner, the BJP state unit retaliated with deputy chief minister Sushil Modi refusing to share the dais with Kumar in a public funtion.

However, during the cabinet meeting — attended by some of the other BJP state leaders — the two sides tried their best to bridge the gap. Sources present in the meeting said, “It was business as usual. Ministers from both parties shared jokes and the atmosphere was friendly. There was no tension inside the conference room. Even, Nitish Kumar was in good mood today.”

Kumar remained tightlipped about the entire issue. He was seen stepping out of the meeting with Road Construction Minister and senior BJP leader Prem Kumar by his side. Later, Prem Kumar said, “Everything is fine. There are no differences between us. We are together.”

In New Delhi, both parties remained calm. JD (U) president Sharad Yadav said, “An individual cannot decide for the party. The party has decided to stay with the NDA. These things happen in a friendship, but it will not affect our partnership.”

The BJP echoed the sentiments of its alliance partner and said it would remain with the JD (U), but it could not compromise on self respect.

Meanwhile, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad said, “The show of differences between BJP and JD(U) is nothing more than a publicity stunt before the polls. It is a mock fight to fool the minorities.”