The Janata Dal (United) national council has set conditions for selecting the leader of the National Democratic Alliance for the next general elections.
The political resolution adopted by the council of the NDA’s second largest partner said if the Prime Minister candidate is not “someone like A.B. Vajpayee,” there will be negative results. Putting pressure on the Bharatiya Janata Party, the resolution urged the alliance to declare their Prime Ministerial candidate at the earliest.
The resolution said the party has clear views on the nature of the Prime Ministerial candidate. “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),” the resolution said.
It added that the candidate’s 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.
Going further, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made it clear that if the fundamentals of the alliance are changed, the JD(U) may have to look for other options.
“Now, if there is an attempt to change the path, there are bound to be problems. The country does not run by mere projection. Some persons think they will create a wave and people will accept it,” Kumar said and added that he does not dream the chair of Prime Minister.
He maintained that the JD(U) does not want to part ways with the NDA. “When did we say that we want to part ways? But when we want to stay together, there are some fundamental issues,” Kumar said. The party has also ruled out any discussions with the “enemy” Congress.
BJP urges calm
Reacting to the JD(U)’s stand, the BJP said need of the hour is to defeat the “non-performing and corrupt” United Progressive Alliance.
“The BJP expects opposition parties and allies to keep their main focus on that,” the party said in a statement. It said it was unfortunate that certain parties concentrate their energies on the BJP’s Chief Ministers and dilute the focus of removing the UPA.