In a bid to downplay the controversy over Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s objections to the advertisement showing him with his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav on Sunday said his party’s alliance and relationship with the BJP is “quite old” and leaders on both sides are mature to sort out the differences.
Speaking to reporters here at his residence, Mr Yadav said, “Our alliance and relationship is quite old... An unpleasant incident took place yesterday. It has passed.” The JD(U) chief, however, was of the view that before using photographs of heads of the state or Central government, a permission should be taken. “It was customary to take permission from the head of government — whether it was the Prime Minister or the chief minister — before their name or photograph appeared in advertisements,” he said. Claiming that since the party was not consulted before putting out the posters, “The way the posters came up was not proper as the party (JD-U) was not consulted. The party had raised objections to that,” he said, adding that an inquiry had been instituted to clear the situation.
Meanwhile, trying to cool tempers between the two parties, Mr Yadav said, JD(U) has “no reason” to disbelieve BJP’s clarification.