New Delhi: The Janata Dal United has tried to downplay the rumours of its impending split with the Bharatiya Janata Party. JD(U) President Sharad Yadav has rubbished reports of the party giving an ultimatum to the BJP and maintains that discussions are still on to salvage the alliance.
However, reports say the crucial decision on the BJP-JD(U) alliance is likely to be taken in the next 24 hours. The BJP too has refused to comment and is instead waiting for the JD(U) to make the first move.
But sources have told CNN-IBN that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will again be hinting at a JD(U)-BJP divide at his public rally in Katihar on Friday. Nitish Kumar has also called a meeting with his confidants in Patna on Friday where the crucial decision may be taken.
Amidst these indications, the clamour for a Third Front also seems to be growing. "If we can understand and address each other's problems, regional parties can form a new front to take on the central government. This will send out a good message," Nitish said.
"There are many issues on which the Congress and the BJP have been unsuccessful. The time has come for the nation to have a Third Front government," said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
But the BJP is not giving up and is making all efforts to keep the NDA united. According to sources, some BJP MLAs are in touch with the JD(U) leadership. The BJP has expressed concerns over how this breakup will affect its vote share in Bihar.
"We understand need for coalitions in the country. We know our duties towards it. The NDA is united and will move forward. I don't see the possibility of the Third Front,"said BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
Top BJP leaders including LK Advani, Rajnath Singh and MM Joshi spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav in a bid to convince them not to take any precipitate action. Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari and senior leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met Yadav at the behest of Rajnath Singh. They urged JD(U) leaders not to go to the extent of breaking the alliance which had swept the Assembly polls in Bihar in 2010 and put up a good show in the last Lok Sabha elections in 2009.
The ties between the JD(U) and the BJP hit an all-time low ever since Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was made the party's poll campaign chief for 2014. JD(U) has openly voiced its opposition to the growing stature of Modi within the party. Following the resignation from all posts by BJP patriarch LK Advani, the JD(U) had said that the alliance was on "ventilator support".
Nitish Kumar has kept the BJP on tenterhooks over continuance in the NDA, saying his party is "concerned" about the "recent developments" in BJP and JD(U) would take a call on them after discussing the matter within the party.
Sensing his opportunity, Nitish has even renewed his demands for a special category status to Bihar. The Congress knows his support to it depends to a large extent on it.
The Bihar CM has also begun talks with his West Bengal and Odisha counterparts, Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik on the Third Front.
(With additional information from PTI)
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