New Delhi: Asserting itself ahead of the general elections next year, the Janata Dal United is planning to hold a convention in Delhi demanding special category status for Bihar.
The convention to be attended by Bihar CM and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar will also see smaller NDA allies from the state coming together in support of the demand.
The JD(U) broke away from the NDA ahead of the last Lok Sabha elections. The party joined hands with the RJD and the Congress to win the 2015 Assembly polls, but returned to NDA fold once again last year.
The renewed friction within the NDA in Bihar is also borne out of growing anxieties amongst smaller parties over seat distribution for LS polls. The BJP and its allies the LJP and the RSLP won an overwhelming number of seats out of 40 up for grabs in Bihar the last time. As a major partner in Bihar now, JDU will be demanding a large chunk of the seats, some of which are currently held by the BJP and others.
"Even when we fought separately in 2014, we got 16% votes. This 16% votes added to either RJD or BJP can take the alliance we join hands with past the 50% mark," says a senior JDU leader.
After the Karnataka elections, Nitish Kumar is seen to be asserting himself once again. He has taken a strident position on the Finance Commission terms of reference. And like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, he is pressing for his demand for special category status for Bihar which would entail tax holidays for those investing in Bihar.
The oldest BJP ally, Shiv Sena has already announced it will contest the next LS and Assembly polls not in alliance with the BJP. Sena has in fact fielded its candidate against the BJP for the Palghar bypolls, voting for which was held on Monday.
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