Allies may jump ship if BJP takes right turn

NDA partners may leave if BJP revives hidutva

The signals emanating from the national executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Mumbai are making its partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) jittery.

With the BJP indicating a return to its hardline Hindutva roots, parties like the Telugu Desam and the Janata Dal (United) are worried about the repercussions on their political futures, putting into question the very survival of the NDA.

Party sources confirmed that the constituents of the NDA were seriously reconsidering their future within the alliance.

"The BJP finished off whichever ally it touched, be it the Indian National Lok Dal, Trinamool Congress, AIADMK or even National Conference. The JD(U) managed to survive following its merger with the Samata Party," said a source.

For the JD(U), the immediate cause of worry is the Bihar Assembly polls later this year. "If the BJP takes a hardline stance, the JD(U) may ally with others like-minded parties like Ramvilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti or even the Janata Dal (Secular) to fight Laloo Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal," said a source in the JD(U).

The TDP, on its part, does not have any immediate compulsions to break away.

"It was actually former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's popularity and not the BJP's ideology that was significant in the state. The party will reconsider its continuation in the alliance after the BJP's Mumbai meet," said a senior TDP leader.

The choice is, however, not as simple for Trinamool's Mamata Banerjee, as she has the combined forces of the the Left and the Congress to contend with.

Among the other loyal partners, the Shiromani Akali Dal, is expected to stay with the BJP.