'NDA crisis not a concern'........

RANCHI: Leaders of JharkhandJanataDal(United) are not concerned about the speculations about dissolution of NDA and are confident that they will, in fact, win more seats in state assembly if the alliance breaks up. JD (U) seems to have lost its foothold in the state over the past decade, being reduced to a party with two legislators in the 81-member house. In the 2005 assembly state elections, the party clinched six seats, but the number reduced to two in 2009, when Raja Peter and SudhaChoudhary, both part-timers in the party, won from their constituencies.

The differences in the NDA camp emerged after Bihar chief ministerNitish Kumar criticized BJP for projecting Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate at JD (U) national council meet in Delhi last week, fuelling a war of words between the leaders of the two parties across the country. The effect is being felt here as well as the JD (U) is keen to contest all 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand in case the alliance breaks up.

Most JD (U) leaders are apparently happy over the talks of dissolution of NDA as for them, remaining with BJP in Jharkhand has not been fruitful. JD (U) state president Khiru Mahato said the party is preparing to contest for all 81 assembly seats and would not compromise on its principles to appease BJP. "We have to compromise every time there is an election because BJP picks and chooses its seats and leaves the leftover for our party," Mahato said. He, however, clarified that the final call on the alliance would be taken by the central leaders.

A faction of JD (U) is also happy over the possibility of the dissolution of NDA so that they can align with other political entities to join the government. Smaller parties and Independents have always been at an advantage in Jharkhand because of fractured mandate leading to coalition government, but JD (U), being a partner of BJP, has not been able to exercise this freedom.

While BJP is yet to discuss the issue with JD (U) at party level, leaders have started expressing their discontent over the statements being issued by Sharad Yadav's party at the national level. "It is surprising that they are thinking of snapping ties with BJP despite being well aware that BJP is not dependent on any regional party as far as Jharkhand is concerned," said Pradeep Sinha, BJP's state spokesperson of .Using a neighbouring state as an example, he said that BJP is in a good position in Bihar as well. "We bagged 92 of the 108 seats we contested for during the assembly elections - JD (U) was successful in 103 seats of the 135," Sinha said, reminding the JD (U).