Cracks in NDA wide open, JD-U accuses BJP of injustice; RLSP pulls out of key meet

Ahead of the next general elections, it seems the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is rapidly losing the trust of its allies in National Democratic Alliance (NDA). After the Shiv Sena, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party in Bihar have sent ripples through the saffron party hours before a key NDA constituents meeting in Patna.

While the JD-U has accused the BJP of injustice, the RLSP has pulled out of the meeting which was scheduled in Patna on Thursday.

“We will not be lying if we say that injustice has been done to us. We’ve not been given the priority we deserve,” ANI quoted JD-U national general secretary Shyam Rajak as saying.

Rajak also raised suspicions on the saffron party’s intentions when it comes to Dalits and the issue of Bihar’s reservation in the Supreme Court and High Court.

“There is reservation in the judiciary in Bihar. Why can’t it be done for Supreme Court and High Court? It raises suspicions on BJP’s intentions. If they’re dedicated towards Ambedkar (Bhim Rao) and Dalits, they must do justice with Dalits and Bihar by giving us respectable partnership to prove it’s a strong alliance,” Rajak said.

Nothing less than 25 seats: JD-U’s clear-cut message for BJP

The JD-U leader also made it clear that they if the BJP wants the “benefits” of Nitish Kumar’s image in Bihar, they will have to give 25 seats to the party in 2019 general elections.

“Nitish Kumar and JD-U are playing a major role in Bihar. We had contested elections on 25 seats. They’ll have to give us 25 seats and there is no question of any lesser number of seats. If NDA wants to be benefited by Nitish Kumar’s image, they’ll have to do justice to JD-U and him (Nitish),” he added.

The clear and cut message from the JD-U came just hours before an important meeting of NDA allies in Patna. All the NDA allies of Bihar – the BJP, the JDU, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) – will come together for the meeting which is aimed at developing better ties between the partners ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha not to attend NDA dinner

Meanwhile, there were reports that the RLSP leader and Union minister of state for HRD Upendra Kushwaha will not take part in the NDA dinner hosted by BJP state unit in Patna.

However, the exact reason behind Kushwaha suddenly pulling out of the meeting was not known but sources said that he was not happy with only state leadership attending the meeting.

According to the sources, the RLSP leader said that his alliance with the BJP was at Centre level and not in Bihar. He also demanded that a national level meeting of NDA should be called. The national level meeting of NDA is called by BJP president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.