BJP 'saddened' by JD-U's exit from NDA, says its 'unfortunate'

BJP today said it was saddened by the "unfortunate" snapping of ties by JD(U) as it would weaken the fight against Congress, but maintained that no compromise on Narendra Modi was acceptable to it.
Soon after JD(U) announced that it is walking out of the NDA, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter, "The break-up of NDA is sad and unfortunate".
BJP President Rajnath Singh said he was "saddened" by the "unfortunate" walking out of JD-U from NDA and maintained that it would weaken the fight against Congress.
"We always treated JD(U) as a younger brother and our relationship of 17 years was not a political but an emotional one. It was never made under pressure," he said.

Singh was speaking at a programme organised by the youth wing of the BJP in Delhi.
"When a coalition is formed, it is based on trust and mutual understanding. When that goes, it is really sad. We can be betrayed but we will never betray," he said.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani, who along with Swaraj is opposed to Modi's elevation as the party's Election Campaign Committee head, told Singh on the phone that this development has taken place due to Modi's anointment, sources said.
He called for NDA putting up a fight in the next Lok Sabha elections under a "collective leadership".

Advani, however, appeared to be in a clear minority as other BJP leaders were of the view that Modi was the best bet.
Meanwhile, in Patna Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi alleged that JD(U) has betrayed the trust that the people of Bihar had reposed in the alliance.
He said repeated assurances had been given to JD(U) that it would be consulted when the BJP chooses its Prime Ministerial candidate, yet the party walked out of NDA.