BJP tries to save alliance with JD(U), Nitish talks of Third

BJP today mounted hectic efforts to save its alliance with JD(U) which still appeared keen on breaking the coalition and move towards a Third Front of regional parties to fight the Lok Sabha polls.
The Third Front idea got a new supporter in Samajwadi Party, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav welcoming formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP alliance.
Top BJP leaders including L K Advani, Rajnath Singh and M M Joshi spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav in a bid to convince them not to take any precipitate action.
Former President Nitin Gadkari and senior leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met Yadav here at the behest of Rajnath Singh.

They urged JD(U) leaders not to go to the extent of breaking the alliance which had swept the Assembly polls in Bihar in 2010 and put up a good show in the last Lok Sabha elections in 2009.
"The alliance will continue. We are trying to ensure that it continues. We do not want to part ways," BJP chief said.

While echoing similar views, party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman, however, asserted that elevation of Modi is "entirely the business" of BJP.
However, JD(U) gave enough indications that it was keen on parting ways in the wake of Narendra Modi being made the Election Campaign Chief of BJP.

Kumar kept BJP on tenterhooks over the continuance in NDA, saying his party is "concerned" about the "recent developments" in BJP and JD(U) would take a call on them after discussing the matter within the party.
At the same time, he said it would be "good" if regional parties like JD(U), Trinamool Congress and BJD form a common front.