New Delhi: On a day former BJP ally Upendra Kushwaha joined the UPA, the BJP’s ties with the Lok Janshakti Party appeared to be in trouble with LJP leader Chirag Paswan asking the central government to explain what benefits demonetisation brought to the country.
An hour-long meeting between top BJP leaders, including its president Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan and his son Chirag remained inconclusive, sources indicated.
However, BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav, who is party's in-charge for Bihar and was present in the meeting, emphasised that the alliance is intact.
LJP sources said the BJP's defeat in the five state polls have ignited a rethink in the party over its ties with the saffron party.
Chirag, sources said, had written a letter to Jaitley with a copy marked to PM Modi after the results were announced on December 11 and asked him to list the benefits of demonetisation so that he can "explain" them to people, they said.
In his comments to media, Chirag has spoken about unease among farmers and youths, and had also tweeted about the ruling National Democratic Alliance passing through "trying times".
Yadav first met the father and son duo at their residence and they then drove to Shah's house where Jaitley also joined them.
Jaitley has in the past dealt with Bihar's political affairs and enjoys good ties with leaders across parties.
A delay in announcement about seat-sharing arrangement with the LJP has caused further unease in the regional party, which has often switched political camps ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
The LJP, sources said, wants a better deal than the BJP has offered it, more so after Kushwaha's exit from the alliance.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is also likely to travel to Delhi on Friday evening in what is being seen as an attempt to finalise seat-sharing formula for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
BJP president Amit Shah and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar after a meeting last month had announced that JD(U) and BJP would contest equal number of seats. The arrangement, however, did not specify allocation of seats of Paswan’s LJP and Kushwaha’s RLSP.
RLSP, however, has now parted ways with the NDA accusing the BJP and the JD(U) of neglecting the interests of Bihar.
On Wednesday, Chirag Paswan and cautioned the BJP to focus on development to avoid any further losses in elections.
Comments
0 comment