Splitsville for NDA: JD(U) dumps BJP, removes 11 ministers in Bihar

Denting the NDA ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections, JD(U) today dumped BJP in Bihar in protest against the elevation of Narendra Modi, bringing to an end a 17-year-old alliance that had held firm through thick and thin in national politics.

The BJP reacted to the development saying it was "sad and unfortunate" but contended that this was "not the end of the world" and that more allies will come to NDA.

JD (U) President Sharad Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced the break up of the coalition at a press conference, exactly a week after Modi was made the BJP's campaign committee chairman, which was widely perceived as just a step short of being made the prime ministerial candidate. Yadav also quit as Convenor of the NDA.

In the 243-member assembly, the JD (U) has 118 MLAs and BJP 91. JD (U) just needs four MLAs for a majority.

Independents and 'Others' account for 6 MLAs. The main Opposition RJD has 22 and Congress four.

* Nitish Kumar addresses the media

The fundamental principle of alliance has not been kept, so the JD(U) has had to take a political decision. In Bihar, the govt was running smoothly, but the situation was such that highlighting our achievements in Bihar was taken as statements against others.

We can't for the sake of government compromise on our principles. Whenever there has been an interference from outside, we have had problems in Bihar. On Saturday, I called them to talk things out - even if they did not want to continue with us, I thought it would be better to talk things out with them and have an amicable split.

There were reports in the newspaper that their ministers were not working, that was not OK. We called a Cabinet meeting on Sunday and they did not even attend that. To not resign and not work, it is a strange situation.

So we have decided to go ahead with a vote of confidence on June 19. I have recommended 11 ministers be dropped from the Cabinet

* Sharad Yadav addresses the media

We were in the NDA  for 17 years and we had a national agenda that was formed with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani.

We have tried to stick to the framework of the NDA but for the past 6-7  months the situation has changed.

We have had good coordination in Bihar too for the past 7 years.
When Goa conclave happened, we said that people must stick to the agenda of the NDA.

Speeches and agenda after BJP's Goa meet vitiated the atmosphere.

There have been comments like "Ram Mandir is on our agenda". This worries many people, creates fear. We cautioned against this.
But now it is a matter of principle and to trust the current BJP leadership has become difficult.

An alliance runs on friendship and trust and we tried our best to run the alliance.

I have resigned as NDA convenor, the JDU has come out of the NDA.

* JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav resigns as NDA convenor.

* Nitish Kumar says he will seek vote of confidence in a special session of the Bihar Assembly on June 19.

* Sharad Yadav to resign as NDA convenor shortly.

* Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has informed Bihar Governor DY Patil that his party is no longer in an alliance with the BJP. According to TV reports, Kumar has sought the opportunity to prove his majority in the legislature.

The Bihar cheif minister needs 122 to prove majority in the house. Kumar reportedly has the support of 118 MLAs and five independents.

* Rajnath Singh to hold press conference at 5 pm.

* Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will meet Governor DY Patil at 2 pm on Sunday afternoon amid indications that the Janata Dal-United and the BJP are set to end their alliance.

Nitish to tell governor that he has support of 118 MLAs and five independents.

* The BJP ministers are likely to give their resignations to Sushil Kumar Modi, who will hand them over to Nitish Kumar.

* Eleven Bihar BJP leaders meeting Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi at his residence.

* In a latest development, BJP leaders have reportedly decided to skip the cabinet meeting called by the JD(U). At the end of the meeting, JD(U) is likely to formally announce its decision to part ways with its 17-year-old ally.

As the news of a possible rift between the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looming large, JDU chief Sharad Yadav has called for party meeting on Sunday afternoon to take a final decision on the issue.

Sensing that a break-up is almost final, the state BJP leaders too have toughened their stand on JD(U).

The BJP on Saturday asked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to quit and seek a fresh mandate if the ruling BJP-JD-U coalition splits.

BJP leader and Minister Chandra Mohan Rai said: "Nitish Kumar should resign as chief minister because people of the state gave the mandate to the NDA in 2010.

Rai said Kumar should not continue as chief minister if his JD-U and the BJP part ways in the state.

NDA convenor Nand Kishore Yadav and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi earlier on Saturday refused to meet Nitish Kumar.

"He had called me and Sushilji. But he has raised the issue as to whether Narendra Modi would be the Prime Ministerial candidate. The BJP national leadership is in touch with him, he should discuss this issue with the national leadership and not with us," Yadav said.

Yadav's remarks came against the backdrop of a media report that quoted Nitish Kumar as saying that BJP should publicly declare that Modi will not be its prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 polls.

Kumar made it clear that there is a strain in the ties between the JD-U and the BJP, and said that the current situation of the coalition is very difficult.

"And, we have to now decide on what to do in this difficult situation. Talks are going on in almost all quarters. On the one hand, they are saying that the alliance should continue for its very old. On the other hand, there are difficulties," said Kumar.

"Dua dete hai jeene ki, dawa karte hai marne ki (You wish me a long life, but offer medicines that will poison me)," he added.

JD (U) has 118 MLAs in 243-member Bihar assembly and needs the support of only four more MLAs to reach the magic figure.

There are 91 MLAS from BJP, 21 from RJD and one each from LJP and CPI in the state assembly.

With Agency inputs