BJP says 'will not break ties with JD (U)'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said that it will try to continue its alliance with Janata Dal (United) in the interest of the people of Bihar.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said that the people of Bihar gave a mandate to the BJP- JD (U) alliance and it should be respected.

"In a democracy, one has to obey people's wishes. And the people of Bihar have voted for the BJP-JD (U) alliance. So, we will continue to run the government with JD (U). We won't break ties with JD (U)," he said, while denying media reports of his party's differences with JD (U).

Another BJP leader C.P. Thakur echoing similar sentiments said the alliance with the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar will continue.

Thakur, who was interacting with the media in Patna, also played safe on whether Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should step down from his post once the alliance gets over.

Nitish Kumar, who has given string indications of snapping ties with BJP, is planning to create a 'federal front' of three Chief Ministers, that of Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar.

The Bihar Chief Minister has held talks with party president Sharad Yadav and other senior state JD (U) leaders, weighing the pros and cons of remaining in alliance with the BJP. Presently, Nitish Kumar is on a tour of the state and has indicated that on his return after two days a decision will be taken.

JD (U) leaders in Patna had also given clear indications of their discomfort with the BJP after Kumar held consultations with them on the issue.

A meeting of JD (U) can be called to decide the fate of the alliance any time after June 14.

JD (U) has 118 MLAs in 243-member Bihar assembly and needs the support of only four more MLAs to reach the magic figure.

There are 91 MLAS from BJP, 21 from RJD and one each from LJP and CPI in the state assembly.