NDA-JD(U) split: Narendra Modi maintains unusual silence

By: Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: With the BJP choosing to sacrifice its alliance with the JD(U) rather than compromise on the elevation of Narendra Modi, the Gujarat CM has cleared probably the last hurdle in his candidacy for prime ministership.

However, the split with the party’s Bihar-ally puts the onus of improving the BJP’s tally in the state on him, turning the break-up into a challenge as much as opportunity. Until hours after the split, Modi maintained an unusual silence, neither tweeting nor blogging about the snapping of the 17-year-old alliance.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh defended Modi. “The Gujarat riots were unfortunate, but should the chief minister be held responsible for it?,” Singh said. Taking on the JD-U, he said an alliance runs on trust, not veto power, and asked how they would ensure a “Congress-free” India.

The BJP is preparing for a grand launch of the party’s election campaign by Modi. From rallies postmonsoon to collecting iron tools from farmers for building Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s “statue of unity”, Modi will be the BJP’s protagonist, a party leader said, adding that the campaign would be launched from either Bihar or UP.

Modi had stayed away from campaigning in Bihar in the aftermath of the 2002 riots in Gujarat as Bihar CM feared his party could lose Muslim votes.

Analysts say that by splitting from BJP, the JD (U) may have made Modi a figure to reckon with in Bihar. “At this juncture, Nitish, by quitting the NDA, has made Modi a central political figure in Bihar,” said sociologist Dipankar Gupta.

A BJP leader from Bihar argued that since the party did not get Muslim votes in any case, it could only gain by projecting Modi’s track record of governance and identity as a leader from the OBC.

“We will now prepare for polls and hope that Modi will double our seats in the state during LS elections,” said BJP’s Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

However, Modi has an onerous task ahead. He has to first ensure his own party is united under his leadership, undoing BJP’s image of a feud-ridden party. He has to also consolidate the NDA, which has shrunk with JD-U leaving its fold. Modi’s projection has already stimulated talk of a third or federal front. While BJP appears to be reconciled that it may be difficult to expand NDA ahead of elections, it is depending on a postpoll scenario to get allies.