JD(U) gives 8-month deadline to BJP to declare its PM nominee

Virtually vetoing Narendra Modi, JD(U) today gave an eight-month deadline to its ally BJP to declare its Prime Ministerial candidate having "secular credibility beyond doubt" for the next general elections.
Setting conditions for NDA's PM nominee, the party in a strongly worded political resolution at its National Council meeting here said the candidate should be someone like Atal Bihari Vajpayee or otherwise it will have "negative results".
The resolution said the PM candidate of the alliance should be named before the end of this year.
"JD(U) is of clear view that NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate's name is declared before elections....It has clear views on what kind of Prime Ministerial candidate should be there. He should be committed to the national agenda of governance of NDA and the earlier decided position on the three issues (Ram Temple at Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code).

"His image should be such that his secular credibility in a multi-religious and multi-lingual country like India should be beyond doubt. He should be in favour of inclusive politics and committed and sensitive towards the development of backward states and regions," the resolution said.
Since BJP is the largest party in NDA, it was its "duty" to "keep in mind" these things before announcing its PM candidate, it said.

"JD(U) demands that based on these parameters, BJP must announce its Prime Ministerial candidate by the end of this year as has been the tradition in the past," the resolution said.

Addressing the meet, which began yesterday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, known for his antipathy towards the Gujarat Chief Minister, said, "There is a need for Atal Bihari Vajpayee-like thinking to govern this country. Atalji always used to say follow your Rajdharma...If our view is ignored, then we will take a step."
He said, "Compromises are made in politics but there are certain fundamental principles. Compromising with secularism to remain in power, no we will never do it.
"We cannot compromise with our basic principles. We want the train to be on track but if the train derails, we will decide according to the situation and time as to what to do. Who has seen tomorrow?," Kumar said.