JD-U 'arm-twisting' BJP on Modi issue: RSS

As the Janata Dal - United appears set to part ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party over Narendra Modi's elevation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has said the Gujarat chief minister's appointment as the Election Campaign Committee head does not mean he is the prime ministerial candidate.

In its latest issue, RSS mouthpiece Organiser said "arm-twisting" of the BJP by the JD-U is not good for the country and emphasised on the need for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance to remain united in order to oust the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance.

"The BJP so far has only declared Modi as chairman of a forum and surely not as the prime ministerial candidate. In this situation, the arm-twisting by JD-U is not good for the country," the editorial of the RSS weekly said.

Significantly, this observation has come days after L K Advani quit from all organisational posts of the BJP in protest against Modi's elevation at the Goa conclave. He withdrew his resignation only after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat assured him that his concerns will be looked into.

"Undisputedly, the question of declaring a prime ministerial candidate does not arise at this moment, as the polls have not yet been declared," Organiser said.

It further states that there is a need for the JD-U to stay within the NDA fold.

"There is sufficient time to declare a prime ministerial candidate and the decision will naturally be taken at an appropriate time after consultation with all parties concerned," the RSS mouthpiece said.

The editorial showered praise on the Gujarat chief minister and said all recent opinion polls prove that he is the most popular choicee for the post of prime minister.

Comparing this scenario with the popularity enjoyed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Organiser said just as the NDA benefited from it then, the coalition would gain electorally with the focus on Modi as he is being seen by "all segments of the society" as the "most suitable person" to lead the country.

It underlined the need for unity in the NDA for ousting the UPA from power.

"Anybody who weakens the alliance on insubstantial grounds will have to answer the public," Organiser said.

It recalled that the erstwhile Janata Party -- which ruled the country post-Emergency -- was ousted from power when people realised that some of its members had "sabotaged public aspirations".

BJP leaders are in constant touch with the JD-U top brass to save the alliance. Though there is no assurance from the BJP to the JD-U on whether Modi will be the PM candidate, the right-wing party feels Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should remain within the NDA.