BJP may opt out and lend outside support to Bihar government

In an attempt to extinguish the fire of revolt in the Bihar unit of the party, the BJP is likely to decide to come out of the Nitish Kumar-led coalition government in the state and opt for lending an issue-based support from outside.

Caught in a dilemma over replacing deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, against whom majority of party MLAs have raised banner revolt in the state, senior BJP leaders are working and holding high-level consultations on the new formula to come out and lend outside support to the government.

Earlier, even after two-hours’ of brain storming session of the party’s parliamentary board on Wednesday, BJP leaders failed to thrash out the Bihar imbroglio. It was, however, agreed upon that a decision on the issue would be taken after the Karnataka Assembly elections.

In the mean time, the party’s central leadership is expected to weigh various options to diffuse the Bihar crisis, keeping in mind the interest of the party. Till now, though all the options are open, the leaders are busy evaluating gain and loss in either removing Modi or coming out of the government.

As per the indications, disgruntled party leaders of Bihar have so far been successful in convincing the central leadership that if Modi continued as the BJP legislature party leader, the party in the state would have to pay heavy price.

They complained that because of soft attitude of Modi, the chief minister has been ignoring the BJP while taking many of the government decisions, on which the party has strong ideological reservations. They argued that many decisions in favour of minority, which Kumar took, were against the principles of the party and exactly on these issue the party had been criticizing the Central government. But they are unable to raise their voice, as they are part of the government.

Sources in the party circle revealed that a senior party minister from Bihar informed BJP president Rajnath Singh that if the current state of affairs were allowed to continue, the party would lose its base and would reach to a point of no return.

The minister suggested that the high command might think of taking a decision to come out of the government and lend issue-based support to the state government. This would enable the party to continue its own programme and raise its voice against the wrong decisions of the state government, he said adding that the move would also suit the party in view of the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Confirming that Singh appeared positive on the proposal, sources said, the party president needs senior leader LK Advani’s consent before taking a final call.