JDU on verge of split: BJP's Sushil Modi

New Delhi: JDU is on the verge of a split, several BJP leaders in Bihar said, a day after a section of NCP joined the ruling side in Maharashtra. However, JDU dismissed such claims.

"There is dissatisfaction among several JDU MPs and MLAs as they are not sure whether they will get a ticket in the upcoming election. Besides, after (chief minister) Nitish Kumar announced Tejashwi Yadav as his political heir, the future of JDU is bleak," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi told ET. "Party leaders like Upendra Kushwaha, RCP Singh and allies Jitan Ram Manjhi have already left Nitish Kumar. There is going to be a rout in the JDU in the coming days."

Modi, however, made it clear that BJP's doors are closed for its erstwhile ally Nitish Kumar.


Referring to one-to-one meetings held by Nitish Kumar with JDU MLAs and MPs, Modi said this itself shows Kumar is scared. "It used to take minimum six months for any MLA to get an appointment with Nitish. Now he is spending half an hour with each MLA and MP. He is unsure whether they will remain in the party," he said.

LJP (Ramvilas) leader Chirag Paswan also claimed that some of the JDU MLAs are in touch with him and other parties. "There is so much anger against Nitish Kumar on the ground and the MLAs know this very well. Of course, some of their MLAs are in touch with me and other parties," Paswan told ET.

JDU rubbished claims. "If BJP and Sushil Modi are so sure, then why don't they execute it? Sushil Modi's record would improve at the Centre and he would get something," JDU spokesman Neeraj Kumar told ET. "Chirag Paswan should first tell whether he is in touch with his uncle or not. BJP's conspiracy won't work in Bihar and the leadership should think about saving BJP in Bihar."