PM Modi, Nitish have admiration' for each other: BJP

New Delhi: If Nitish Kumar led JD(U) on Tuesday remembered its “natural” relations with former ally BJP, the latter claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Mr Kumar have a “natural admiration” for each other. 

JD(U)’s support to the BJP-led NDA’s presidential nominee, Ram Nath Kovind and not the Opposition bloc’s Meira Kumar, seems to have created a major rift within the Bihar ruling alliance. Supporting Mr Kumar, the BJP said the Bihar CM continues to retain his personal image but is troubled by “corrupt and criminal” antecedents of the leaders of his allies, the RJD and Congress.

Taking a strong exception to senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s remarks against Mr Kumar, the JD(U) on Tuesday wondered why the party seemed bent on shortening the life of their grand alliance along with the RJD in Bihar.

JD(U)’s K.C. Tyagi not only objected to the “unfriendly and unwarranted” attack against his party chief, he also referred to his party’s “sahaj(natural)” relations with the BJP when it was part of the NDA. He, however, insisted that there was no question of joining the saffron alliance.

Ever since the BJP leaders attended a dinner hosted by Mr Kumar earlier this year, speculation has been rife that their could a political realignment ahead of 2019 general elections. Relations between JD(U) and RJD are also said to be deteriorating. The JD(U)’s support to the NDA nominee and not “Bihar ki beti” Ms Meira Kumar, has attracted the Bihar CM a lot of criticism from the RJD and Congress. The RJD had alleged Mr Kumar of making a “historic blunder” by supporting Mr Kovind, while the Congress accused him of “political opportunism.” 

The BJP claimed Bihar’s alliance appeared to be on the verge of collapse and claimed that Mr Modi and the Bihar CM have a “natural admiration” for each other. 

BJP spokesperson G.V.L Narsimha Rao said, “The coalition in Bihar is riddled with internal contradictions.”