BJP-JD(U) split to spell rude jolt to RJD
Madan Kumar, TNN | Jun 16, 2013, 06.14 AM ISTPATNA: The impending split between Janata Dal (U) and BJP may be an internal affair of the twoNDA allies, but it will have serious fallout for Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
As the BJP (with 91 MLAs), after the split, going to be main Opposition in the assembly, the RJD is bound to lose two key posts — the leader of opposition and the chairperson of public accounts committee — presently being held by its MLAs Abdul Bari Siddiqui and Lalit Kumar Yadav, respectively. As per convention, the two posts will now go to BJP MLAs.
Since the finance minister Sushil Kumar Modi is not a member of the assembly (he is member of state council), road construction minister Nandkishore Yadav is being considered for the post of leader of opposition in the assembly.
But the main loss to the RJD will be a possible dent in its traditional Muslim votes. As JD(U) is breaking its 17-year-long tie-up with BJP on the issue of elevation of Narendra Modi as the saffron outfit's national election panel chief, some RJD leaders in the state feel the Muslim votes may now be consolidated to the JD (U) folder. This is mainly because the courageous stand taken by Kumar on opposing NaMo's elevation tooth and nail.
"In 1991, when Prasad had ordered arrest of L K Advani after stopping his Rath Yatra in Samastipur district, the RJD chief had emerged as the most darling secular leader for Muslim voters in the country. Now, after opposing elevation of NaMo, Kumar has emerged the most popular saviour of interests and sentiments of Muslim voters. In the changed scenario, Muslim voters may consolidate themselves under the umbrella of JD (U), at least in Bihar during the general elections," said socio-political analyst Uday Shanker Choudhary.
And, even the RJD chief is aware about the danger of consolidation of Muslim votes in JD (U) folder. To check this likely consolidation of Muslim votes, Prasad, while talking to reporters here on Wednesday, described the Bihar CM as an "opportunist"" and said his protest over NaMo was just a charade for cornering Muslim votes.
"Kumar's opposition to NaMo and communal forces was just a charade with an aim to corner Muslim votes," Prasad said while reacting over imminent 'divorce' between the two NDA allies.
During the press meet, Prasad continued to highlight Kumar's previous actions related to interests of Muslim voters, including Gujarat riots and playing the `host' to RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat at the chief minister's official residence at 1 Anne Marg.
"Why Kumar didn't resign from the NDA after Gujarat riots in 2002 like Ramvilas Paswan did? Why did not he order a probe into Sabarmati train burning incident as a Railway minister in NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee?" Prasad asked.
The RJD president also said that people of Bihar were watching the "Ram lila" between JD(U) and BJP and would teach a lesson to them in coming elections.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-JDU-split-to-spell-rude-jolt-to-RJD/articleshow/20612059.cms
Congress MLA likely to join JD(U)
Law Kumar Mishra, TNN | Jun 16, 2013, 05.37 AM ISTPATNA: The Congress legislature party (CLP) in Bihar is faced with a likely split with one of its four MLAs confirming he had received an invitation from the JD (U) leadership to join the party in return of a cabinet berth.
State JD (U) president Vashishth Narain Singh, however, said he did not contact any Congress legislator. Such an exercise might be taking place at "internal level". But he did not explain the level.
Mohammad Tausif Alam, Congress MLA from Bahadurganj who returned from New Delhi, told TOI, "I have urged the party leadership to helpNitish Kumar to strengthen secularism. It will help minorities in the state. I have conveyed my feelings to the central leadership."
Alam said the Nitish Kumar government needed support of the Congress in the interest of the minorities. He admitted having received an "invitation" from the JD (U). He, however, did not explain the nature of offer and the persons who made the offer.
Two other Congress MLAs, Mohammad Javed from Kishanganj and Mohammad Afaq from Kasba in Purnia district, said they would not betray Sonia Gandhi for a cabinet berth in Bihar. Sadanand Singh, a former speaker of Bihar assembly, is the fourth Congress MLA and is CLP leader.
Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chaudhury is keeping a tab on the activities of the Congress MLAs. Sources close to him confirmed there were reports of one MLA deserting the party to join the JD (U).
Premchandra Mishra, media incharge of BPCC, said the party had taken note of the statement of Bahadurganj MLA about seeking Congress support to JD (U) government in Bihar. He recalled the chief minister had specially gone to Bahadurganj to attend the marriage of the MLA concerned few weeks back.
According to constitutional experts, Anti-Defection Act provisions can be applied against defecting MLAs. But there is no time bar on the Speaker to take decisions on disqualifications. They recalled two similar incidents in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh assemblies. About 25 MLAs in MP had joined the Congress (T) during the regime of Digvijay Singh. They were ardent followers of Arjun Singh. Petitions to disqualify them were filed, but the Speaker's judgment could not come till the House was dissolved.
In Chhattisgarh, 12 BJP MLAs had left the BJP and joined the Congress. Proceedings of their disqualification could not be completed by the then Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla till the term of the Chhattisgarh assembly expired in December 2003.
Abdul Bari Sidiqqui, leader of opposition in Bihar assembly and senior RJD leader, on Saturday claimed none of the 22 party MLAs would join the JD (U). Sidiqqui said the JD (U) leaders were trying to touch the RJD territory but the party MLAs turned down the offer of ministership. RJD president Lalu Prasad has reached Patna and is personally handling the situation, he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Congress-MLA-likely-to-join-JDU/articleshow/20611827.cms
BJP snubs Nitish's plan for a 'cordial demerger'
Abhay Singh, Law Kumar Mishra & Faizan Ahmad, TNN | Jun 16, 2013, 05.15 AM ISTPATNA: The NDA collapsed in Bihar on Saturday with the BJP refusing to heed Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's demand for a public commitment that it would not project Narendra Modi as its PM candidate. The Bihar CM had set down this conditionality in an exclusive interview with TOI that appeared on Saturday.
The BJP central leadership turned down Kumar's pre-condition for staying with the NDA, and instructed its senior-most leader in the state — deputy chief minister Sushil Modi — as well NDA convener Nandkishore Yadav rebuff an invite from the Bihar CM for a discussion on the modalities of what JD(U) sources called "a cordial demerger".
Speculation raged in Patna over whether Kumar will need to resign after he parts ways with the BJP, but home ministry sources in Delhi said this won't be required. Even if BJP ministers in his government do not quit, the CM can submit a fresh list of ministers and also enumerate his support.
The relations between JD(U) and BJP continue to dip and communication between the two allies has virtually snapped, laying the ground for a formal announcement of the split, most likely by Monday.
"There is no merit now in having further negotiations with the Bihar CM now that he has publicly declared that he has asked the BJP leaders to announce that Narendra Modi will not be BJP's PM candidate. We can't allow others to intervene in our party's internal matters," said Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP general secretary in-charge of Bihar. "How can he dictate terms to our party?" he asked.
Kumar had told TOI on Friday TOI that he would continue with the NDA only if the BJP publicly met his "basic concern" which was a kind of political shorthand for his demand for an undertaking that the Modi wouldn't be foisted on the NDA as its PM candidate.
JD(U) is expected to announce its decision to pull out latest by Monday after its party chief Sharad Yadav has gone through the motion of holding consultations with the state unit.
BJP's Sushil Modi had on Friday evening accepted Kumar's invitation for talks. However, the publication of Bihar CM's pre-condition for staying in the NDA has triggered a re-think. Its decision to stay away from the talks reflected the party's resentment over Kumar's public ultimatum.
Sushil Modi couched the rejection for talks in a polite formulation, saying that it was beyond the state unit to address Kumar's "basic concern". Talking to TOI, he said, "The central leadership alone is competent to discuss the issues raised by Nitishji".
But JD(U)'s message is loud and clear. "What is left of the relationship when we are unable to have even a cup of tea together," said a source close to Kumar.
In fact, the focus has already shifted on the post-NDA scenario in Bihar, with each side engaged in finding ways how each can avoid being the trigger for the 17-year-old partnership which spelt the end of Lalu Prasad's hegemony and was started what many see as the process of the state's turnaround. They were also anxious to avoid bitterness as they part. "The alliance worked successfully for Bihar and there should not be acrimony when we go our separate ways," said JD(U) MP N K Singh.
There was speculation about whether the BJP ministers would resign after JD(U) announces the pullout by Monday or whether Kumar will resign as CM to be sworn in anew ; this time in his role as the leader of the JD(U) legislature party rather than that of the NDA.
Opinion is split on whether he would be obliged to resign, considering that the Governor invited him to form the government on the strength of a letter of support from the NDA group that included 91 MLAs belonging to the BJP.
Nandkishore Yadav, road construction minister in the Bihar government, has argued that the CM would be required to quit since he took oath as a leader of the NDA.
But Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary as well as parliamentary affairs minister Binjendra Prasad Yadav insisted that the CM would not be required to put in his papers after the NDA split unravels in the Assembly. They said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not resign when Congress's pre-poll partners, DMK and Trinamool Congress, withdrew from the UPA .
In any case, there is unanimity that Kumar will have little problem in proving its majority in a floor test. The party has the support of 118 MLAs in the 243-member-strong House, and can easily reach the magic figure with the support of Independents and the lone member belonging to CPI.
Besides, the RJD with 22 MLAs, and Congress, which has four MLAs — 3 of them Muslims — will have trouble voting along with BJP against someone who has abandoned a successful partnership on the issue of Narendra Modi's prime ministerial bid.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-snubs-Nitishs-plan-for-a-cordial-demerger/articleshow/20611694.cms