The move comes in the wake of strained relations since the announcement of Modi government's council of ministers as the party expected two Cabinet berths, but was offered only one
The Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United (JD-U) seems to be heading the Shiv Sena's way when it comes to its strained alliance with the BJP. At its national executive meet on Sunday, the party decided that it will not be a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) outside Bihar. Effectively, an NDA partner otherwise, it will only contest the Bihar elections with the BJP and LJP, but will go it alone in Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Delhi.
The move comes in the wake of strained relations since the announcement of Modi government's council of ministers as the party expected two Cabinet berths, but was offered only one. At the time, the JD(U) declined to join the government due to "disproportionate representation" of allies but decided to remain a part of the NDA and stated that there was "no unease" between them and the BJP. However, Kumar retaliated soon enough when during his cabinet expansion in Bihar, he inducted eight new faces — all from his party — and offered just one ministerial birth to the BJP as a quid pro quo. It was turned down by deputy chief minister Sushil Mody.
However, even as senior party leader KC Tyagi on Sunday kept up a brave front and dubbed reports of differences with the BJP as "mere rumours without any basis", party insiders said that Kumar is wary of the coming Assembly elections that can change the power equation with the BJP.
Meanwhile, the role of JD(U) vice president Prashant Kishor, who was also at the event, was questioned as one of his companies recently signed with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. He claimed that it was strictly a professional contract with the company and that there is no conflict of interest at a personal level, but sources added that it may create a rift in the future, as alliance partner BJP — arch-rival of TMC in Bengal — is not going to let it go easily.
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 "Bihar CM Nitish Kumar with party vice-president Prashant Kishor (C) and secretary general KC Tyagi")
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