The Hindu : National : BJP action in Bihar will await Karnataka polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 01, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

BJP action in Bihar will await Karnataka polls

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: The BJP Parliamentary Board on Wednesday decided to put off any firm action to resolve the party’s problems in Bihar till after the Karnataka Assembly elections.

The situation has become serious after the Cabinet reshuffle effected by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United).

A large number of dissidents, who were not happy with the changes, have since threatened to split the BJP, reminding senior leaders of what happened in the mid-1990s when the central leadership expelled almost half of the party MLAs who, however, came back with redoubled vigour in the next round of elections.

A senior leader involved in Bihar affairs disclosed that “all options” — including sending a strong message to the party’s Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi — were open to the central leaders. The complaint against Mr. Modi is that he has come strongly under the influence of Mr. Kumar to the extent of undermining BJP interests.

Modi blamed

BJP sources pointed out that in the last few years the JD(U) had grown in Bihar at the expense of their party, and blamed Mr. Modi for this state of affairs.

The reshuffle was the “last straw.”

The sources said the parliamentary board meeting here discussed a decision on Mr. Modi. But as any action would possibly have a short-term adverse fallout, a decision was put off.

Crucial ally

It seems some leaders, with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections, are wary of disturbing the arrangement in Bihar, where the JD(U) is a crucial ally.

The BJP is also worried that after the spat with that party over seat-sharing in Karnataka — eventually there was no poll pact — upsetting the Bihar arrangement could lead to a snapping of ties with the National Democratic Alliance partner.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National