Nitish Kumar keeps BJP on tenterhooks over alliance

JD(U) on Thursday kept BJP on tenterhooks over its continuance in NDA with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying that his party is "concerned" about recent developments in the coalition and would take a call on them after discussing the matter within the party.

Kumar also said that it would be "good" if regional parties like JD(U), Trinamool Congress and BJD form a common front.

Kumar said, "L K Advani discussed some issues and said some things. We will discuss them in our meeting. We will take cognisance of these things...We will discuss all issues," he told reporters in Patna.

"Before that it is not proper for me to say anything. But we are concerned about the developments which have taken place in the last few days," Kumar said amidst rumblings in NDA over Narendra Modi's appointment as BJP's election campaign committee chief.

Asked about reports that JD(U) favoured the formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front, he said, "(West Bengal Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee had talked to me on the phone and her view is that Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal and Jharkhand have some common problems and we should think about them together. I have also said that these problems are common."

Kumar, who is also in touch with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, said, "If all of us together understand these problems and form a common front it would be good...This is at an initial stage and one should not speculate that a political front has been formed."

Meanwhile, former BJP President Nitin Gadkari, who is considered close to RSS, and party Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi drove to the residence of JD(U) President Sharad Yadav today morning. Advani had made a call to Yadav on Wednesday asking JD(U) to keep the alliance intact.

Sources, however, said there was "no positive indication" from the meeting during which Yadav mainly apprised BJP leaders about JD(U)'s concerns.

BJP President Rajnath Singh called up the Bihar Chief Minister today morning while senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi talked to Kumar last night.

Indicating his resentment over Modi's elevation, Yadav said, "A number of things had happened recently and a meeting of our party will held to take a view on them." On whether there could be a rethink on JD(U)'s reported plans to break ties with BJP, Yadav merely said, "Talks are on between BJP and JD(U). We are also talking to our important workers. A meeting of the party will be held, where we will take a decision."

To questions on the federal front issue, Kumar said, "It cannot be said that it has taken a firm shape." He, however, said that if Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand come together and make a "common cause" on the problems faced by them, they would be a stronger force.

Meanwhile, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu said in Hyderabad that he was in touch with others including Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik on the issue of federal front and will come out with details at an approriate time.

He was asked whether TDP would be a part of such a front.

"A hundred per cent. We are part of a federal front.
Federal front is a reality. Congress has lost its mandate and it is becoming weaker day by day while NDA is not picking up.
Regional parties are very strong. I am confident that regional parties will form a third front."

The Bihar Chief Minister also said that he congratulated his Odisha counterpart for holding a successful rally in Delhi on Wednesday. He said his government has already demanded special category status to Bihar, a demand made by Odisha now.

The JD(U) leader said while West Bengal has a big debt burden, Bihar suffers from a development deficit due to fund crunch and policies of earlier governments.