BJP refused to listen to our problems, suggestions: JD-U leader

A senior leader of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Monday said the party's decision to break off its ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after 17 years, was because of the latter's obstinacy about not listening to the problems and suggestions raised by the JD-U.

Party leader and one of its spokesman Devesh Chandra Thakur also said that the JD-U was not in favour of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi being projected as the BJP or the NDA's prime ministeral candidate during or after the 2014 general elections.

He was candid in accepting that the BJP would only criticise the JD-U for taking the decision to move out of the alliance after such a long association.

"It's obvious they (BJP) won't praise us after the separation. Shahnawaz Hussain is a very senior BJP leader and I am too junior to comment on his statement. We have been telling them about our problems and suggestions from a long time, and there is no question of compromising our point of view," Thakur said.

"They made Narendra Modi the (BJP's) election campaign chairman, and showed clear signs that he will be given charge of the BJP. We were giving our ideology for the last one year. We had no other way apart from doing this. I can also say that they have betrayed us," he added.

Thakur also accepted that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had certainly praised Modi ten years ago for his leadership qualities, but then, it was because of political compulsions, but in the national interest when he was railway minister.

"This is normal in politics. L.K. Advani saved Narendra Modi in the post-Godhra riots period, when Atalji (Atal Behari Vajpayee) was against him. Today, they (the BJP) are treating their senior ministers and father figures like this," Thakur said.

"We both can blame each other, but we should let the people decide. We came into this alliance because of L.K.Advani," he added.

Thakur was speaking a day after the JD-U announced formally that it was breaking off its alliance with the BJP and recommended the sacking of 11 BJP ministers from the Bihar Cabinet.

Chief Minister Kumar has said that he will seek a vote of confidence in the Bihar State Assembly on June 19.