BJP President Amit Shah invites JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar to join NDA, offers post of co-convener

BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday formally invited Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar to join NDA. The development comes a day after Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. 

Friday was Kumar’s first visit to the national capital after he jettisoned the alliance with the RJD and the Congress, and sealed a tie-up with the BJP on July 26.

He told reporters after meeting Modi that it was a courtesy call and he will visit Delhi again this month end to discuss Bihar’s developmental issues with the prime minister.

He later had a luncheon meeting with Shah in which both leaders are believed to have discussed ongoing political developments and other issues related to the state.

JD(U) sources said the party is expected to announce its decision to formally join the BJP-led NDA in its national executive meeting on July 19 in Patna.Asked if the party will also join the Modi cabinet, a JD (U) leader said such a decision will be “natural”.

Read | JD(U) suspends rebel leader Ali Anwar from party for attending meeting of Opposition parties

“When we are together in government in Bihar it is only natural that our party joins the Union government,” he said.

However, he added that such a decision will be taken by Kumar and the party had not deliberated over it yet.

The JD(U) has 12 members in Parliament, two in the Lok Sabha and 10 in the Rajya Sabha.

Shah has also asked Nitish to be co-convener of the ruling-alliance.

JDU’s  leader in the Rajya Sabha Sharad Yadav has rebelled against the alliance with the BJP but apparently does not enjoy much support among other party’s lawmakers.

Kumar almost shut the door on any reconciliation with Yadav, saying he is free to take any decision as the alliance with the BJP had the entire party’s nod.

“He (Yadav) is free to take his decision. As far as party is concerned, it has already taken its decision. The decision was not mine alone and it was taken with the consent of the party. If he keeps a different opinion, then he is free to do so,” Kumar said.

Read | Grand alliance row in Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar says Sharad Yadav is free to take own decisions