BJP springs a 40-seat surprise
Bihar’s ruling allies, the JD(U) and BJP, on Tuesday gave telltale signals of virtually heading for a split before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in which each party may field its own candidates for all the 40 seats of the state.
After months of smouldering differences, their senior leaders finally nudged aside the familiar veneer of reconciliatory talk to let out a glimpse of their plans for Bihar. The two NDA allies hinted that they were readying to part ways, like the split between the BJP and the BJD in Orissa during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
“We (BJP) are currently conducting preparations in all 40 constituencies. If it becomes necessary, we may contest all 40 seats. There is no certainty in politics. This is what politics is about,” said BJP Bihar president C.P. Thakur to journalists. Mr Thakur also expressed his disagreement with recent statements by chief minister and JD(U) stalwart Nitish Kumar offering the support of “all 40 Lok Sabha (Bihar) seats” to any party willing to grant the state special category status. “If they (JD-U) are preparing for 40 seats, we also are preparing for 40 seats,” he added.
JD(U) national spokesman and RS member Shivanand Tiwary sounded more direct. “Some people are wondering who the BJP will project as the PM candidate in 2014. If it is someone who we are not comfortable with, what can we do? So we are preparing for all the 40 seats, and they are also doing the same,” he said.
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