Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar maintained that the JD(U)-BJP will go to polls with the “old arrangement” and asserted that the question whether Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi will campaign or not in the state is for the saffron party to deal with. On the Ayodhya title suits verdict, Mr Kumar said that the state government is fully geared up to deal with any ramifications, both politically and administratively.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Kumar first laughed when asked about Mr Modi and then said that the party position is very clear on it. “We will stick to the old arrangement. This is an internal problem of the BJP,” Mr Kumar said.
The JD-U had earlier said that the “old arrangement” stood not only for seat-adjustment but also for campaign strategy and Mr Modi was not part of this arrangement in the 2005 Assembly elections.
Reacting to the Bihar chief minister’s statement, BJP general secretary and party in-charge for the state Dharmendra Pradhan said: “It is for the BJP to decide which of its leaders will go for campaigning. No one can dictate terms to us.”
Mr Kumar held talks with BJP leader Arun Jaitley and JD-U chief Sharad Yadav on the state polls. The CM said the parties will have separate manifestos as was the case in the 2005 polls and last year’s LS elections and later would chalk out a joint working programme.
When asked about the possible fallout of the Ayodhya verdict, Mr Kumar said: “Samaj ka haalat bigadna nahi chahiye (Social amity should not be disturbed).” On swapping of seats between the JD-U and the BJP, Mr Kumar said a decision would be taken up before the process of filing of nomination begins for the first phase on September 27.