Nitish declares that JD(U) parting ways is BJP’s failure

New Delhi, June 17: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday rejected BJP's charge of betrayal on JD(U) parting ways with NDA.

In an apparent reference to senior leader L.K. Advani, Mr. Kumar accused the BJP of "betraying and ignoring its senior leaders." He also said, the decision to split with NDA not taken in haste. "It was decided after due consideration and taken at the right time."

"Atal Bihari Vajpayee-L.K. Advani era is over in BJP. We cannot reconcile with new era," Mr. Kumar said.

Claiming that JD(U) parting ways with NDA is BJP's failure, Mr. Kumar said, "BJP created a situation in which even an old ally was forced to leave."Kumar took a dig at the BJP said the situation had worsened beyond repair.

He said there have been election campaign committee heads of the BJP earlier as well, like Pramod Mahajan or Arun Jaitley, but no one has ever been anointed like this (The JD(U) leaders did not take Modi's name once). He said whatever the JD(U) was doing, it was being seen as a challenge to some personality. He said the achievements of the JD(U)-led government announced in April was seen as against somebody.

Kumar also said that the alliance worked till 'outside' influence wasn't there. He said the new generation of leadership in the BJP was making it difficult for them to work in unison.

"We had a crisis a few years ago but it was resolved. This time, it looks difficult," Kumar said.

He added that they wanted to speak to the BJP to settle the differences at a meeting on Sunday but the latter did not turn up. He held the BJP responsible for the JD(U)'s exit from the alliance. Kumar said when there arose serious differences in the basic principles, the JD(U) decided to part ways.

The chief minister also sacked 11 BJP ministers from his cabinet.

With inputs from PTI

OneIndia News