Janata Dal (United), which runs a coalition with BJP in Bihar, has decided to contest assembly elections in Gujarat on its own.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose antipathy to Modi is well known, will also campaign for the JD-U candidates in Gujarat, where elections are due this year end.
Giving indications of the party’s plans, JD-U President Sharad Yadav told reporters, “the BJP is the larger party in the NDA.
We will go for alliance with the BJP wherever it wants us, but barring in Gujarat.” He was replying to a question whether the JD-U contesting elections separately in a State ruled by the BJP will give the impression of a rift in the NDA.
Both party chief Sharad Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will campaign in Gujarat, aggravating further the strains between Kumar and Modi that have come to the fore on more than one occasion.