"Rift (between BJP and JDU) was always there. It has now only come to the fore. The reaction of the BJP leaders over the Maharajaganj results showed that they were happier than RJD leaders over Nitish Kumar's defeat," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters at the AICC.
In a tweet yesterday, Ahmed said, "People say that after Karnataka results, the tooth-ache with which Narendra Modi had begun to suffer has lessened a bit today (Karanatka ke results ke baad Modi Ji ke dant me jo dard shuru hua tha, woh aaj kuchh kam hua hai)".
His comments came even as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's antipathy towards Modi is well-known. Not surprisingly, JD(U) general secretary Shivanand Tewari was quick in his riposte saying, "Rudi ji will be knowing better how much the BJP needs Narendra Modi but JD(U) does not need him."
Apparently seeking to drive a wedge in the Opposition alliance, the Congress spokesperson said it was now for the BJP and JD(U) leaders to say what will be the fate of their alliance.