Don't let Ayodhya mar poll prospects, Nitish tells BJP

Apprehending adverse political fallout of the Babri verdict over his carefully crafted developmental poll plank to ride back to power, JD(U) leader and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar cautioned his ally, the BJP, which maintains its commitment for a temple at Ayodhya, against raking up passions in the wake of the Babri title suit verdict slated for next week. Nitish discussed the issue with senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley during their meeting on Wednesday.

"Our party's stand is very clear (regarding Babri dispute) and I have made it clear to Arun Jaitley during my meeting with him," Nitish said here on Thursday. He said the issue should either be resolved through a court verdict or through dialogue. "All should accept the decision of the court. Any aggrieved party can always move the higher court... We are against people who create trouble," Nitish said.

Nitish's caution holds significance in view of the fact that BJP's posturing after the verdict may hold key to the support of his minority vote bank during the Bihar election that follows within weeks after the verdict. In fact, BJP's posturing may offer an opportunity to Lalu Prasad to mobilise his minority support base that appears getting split between JD(U), RJD and Congress.

In his attempts to retain his minority support base, Nitish reminded the BJP of the "old arrangement" under which Gujarat CM Narendra Modi was kept away from campaigning in Bihar during Lok Sabha elections. "It is going to be the old arrangement for seat sharing and electioneering," he said, adding that the two parties will have separate election manifestos.