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Narendra Modi will soon be tested as the NDA’s second largest partner Janata Dal (United) has worked out an exit plan.
Informed sources in both the JD (U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party said the 15-year-old alliance between the two parties will be over soon. The JD (U) has conveyed to the BJP leadership that an announcement to this effect could be expected on June 15.
L.K. Advani contacted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U)’s president Sharad Yadav. However, there was no breakthrough in the talks. The electoral victory of Rashtriya Janata Dal with a massive margin at the Maharajganj by-poll has rattled the JD(U).
The party fears that if it continues supporting the Narendra Modi-led NDA, it will end up losing the 15 per cent Muslim vote in the State.
In the State, if RJD, and its ally Lok Janshakti Party, builds the campaign based on Modi, the RJD may combine the Muslim votes and 14 per cent votes of Yadavs and four to five per cent of votes of Dalits. This could prove costly to Nitish Kumar.
The JD(U), which has 118 seats at the moment, needs the support of four more MLAs in the Assembly. The party has roped in on four independent MLAs for support. Though the Congress has four MLAs, the JD(U) does not want an alliance with the party in Bihar.
“They are breaking the alliance. The Bihar Government may sustain on a thin majority,” a senior BJP leader said.
Also JD(U)’s Secretary General, K.C. Tyagi, met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Mamata has been vocal about forming a “federal front” at the Centre.
She has also spoken to the Biju Janata Dal supremo Naveen Patnaik on the issue. She said in Kolkata that Nitish Kumar agreed with her on the formation of a federal front. She said they will hold talks with various regional parties in different States.
A leader of Samajwadi Party said they are watching the developments cautiously.
“Our support will be essential in forming the next Government at the Centre. Mulayam Singh Yadav has already made it clear that neither the UPA nor the NDA will be able to form the Government after the next elections,” the leader added.
The Left is yet to respond to the developments.
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