The top leadership of JD(U), a key constituent of NDA, met here today for a conclave amidst indication that it may not set a deadline for BJP to announce its Prime Ministerial candidate for next Lok Sabha elections.
During the two-day National Executive that began today, JD(U) is expected to decide its strategy in case Modi is projected by BJP as the Prime Ministerial nominee. There were reports that the party has serious reservations about Modi.
The executive meeting may ask BJP to declare its Prime Ministerial candidate in an apparent bid to thwart Modi's name.
As the meeting began, JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi said the party would not press BJP to announce its decision on the PM candidate issue and give it time to decide. "Yes, we can give time. All these are under discussion and we will take a final call tomorrow," he said.
The view in JD(U) is that Modi not a consensus candidate even within BJP, hence it should be given time to set its house in order.
Some JD(U) leaders said as there is still time for Lok Sabha elections, it will not be correct to force another parry to declare Prime Ministerial candidate at this juncture.
Senior JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari said in view of the coming Lok Sabha polls, the party will discuss the current political situation and evolve a consensus on its strategy.
"We will discuss the current political scenario. People will put forth their views and what the party should do in current political situation. We will try and evolve a consensus," he said.
Tiwari agreed with BJP chief Rajnath Singh that JD(U) had an old association with BJP. "Rajnath Singh is right. Our association with BJP is very old. We are together since 1995," he said.
