From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: After engineering a coup in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) shocking Maratha leader strongman Sharad Pawar, the Bharatiya Janata Party is playing the same game in Bihar as BJP leader Sushil Modi claimed on Monday that many JD(U) MLAs in Bihar are upset with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. He also ruled out return of Nitish to the BJP-led NDA, citing Home Minister Amit shah that he was tolerated for 17 years but no longer.
On the political chaos in Bihar, BJP tolerated Nitish Kumar for 17 years but not any more in accepting him in the NDA.
Sushil Modi told reporters here that the JD(U) leaders were angry at Nitish Kumar and many of them had contacted the BJP. He said Kumar would not be allowed in the NDA fold if he wanted to switch over.
BJP tolerated Nitish Kumar for 17 years….: Sushil Modi on accepting Bihar CM in NDA. Speaking on the alleged political chaos in Bihar, Modi said Nitish Kumar had never given time to the MLAs and MPs in 17 years. After waiting for an entire one year, he i finally giving them 30 minutes, the former deputy chief minister said.
According to Modi, there is a revolt in the JD(U) since Nitish accepted Rahul Gandhi as the leader of the next course of battle (2024 Lok Sabha elections) and maade deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad, as his successor. “No one is ready go accept either. In view of the present situation, he said the JD(U) may not win more than 8 to 10 seats, making the party MPs and MLAs fear that their future in JD(U) is bleak.
Meanwhile, Modi claimed the BJP leadership has already alerted the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha chairman not to allow any plea by the Sharad Pawar group to disqualify any NCP leaders who have gone with the majority of the NCP deciding to join the Maharashtra government to strengthen hands of Prime Minister Modi.
Those against whom the notices may be issued for disqualification on the ground of anti-party activities are NCP working president Praful Patel and Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare who was made new president of the Maharashtra NCP in place of Jayant Patil. Praful Patel on Monday sent confusing signals by claiming that Sharad Pawar continues to be the NCP chief and everything will become clear in 2-3 days.
Pawar, however, refused to be misled by Praful as he asked his daughter and one of the NCP working presidents Supriya Sule to expel both Patel and Tatkare and seek their disqualification from Parliament.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said, “A similar situation (like currently in Maharashtra) can arise in Bihar soon as some JD(U) MLAs are upset with Nitish Kumar. In UP, Jayant Chaudhary can join with NDA as is currently upset with Akhilesh Yadav. There is a possibility that differences arise between MLAs of the Samajwadi Party.”
