Modi as BJP PM face worries JD-U

• Sharad Yadav says, "the alliance is there. We're mending ties"
• Gets no assurance that Modi won't be named PM candidate

Anita Saluja New Delhi: Amid pressures from the JD-U that the BJP should give a commitment that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will not be named as the Prime Ministerial candidate, BJP President Rajnath Singh has refused to budge from his stand. He said that it is for the BJP Parliamentary Board to take the call at a later stage. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, meanwhile, has opened up channels with the BJD and the Trinamool Congress to join hands with them for the formation of a Third Front.

Former BJP President Nitin Gadkari met JD-U President Sharad Yadav on Thursday, along with BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, to persuade him to reconsider their decision on severing ties with the BJP. Though Gadkari pleaded for continuing BJP-JD-U alliance, he, however, refused to hold out any assurance on the key issue of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate. Gadkari later informed BJP President Rajnath Singh about the JD-U concerns. For his part, Rajnath Singh insisted that no commitment can be given to the JD-U on ruling out Modi. After meeting Gadkari, Sharad Yadav said, "The alliance is there. We are trying to mend the ties. Not me, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had spoken about the Federal Front. I will not say anything on this issue." At a time when strengthening of the NDA has become the priority in the run up to the crucial General Election in 2014, the possibility of NDA disintegration is worrying BJP for its negative fallout on Modi, raising the larger question of his wider acceptability to the Allies. Bihar CM?Nitish Kumar walking out of the alliance, close on the heels of Modi moving on to the BJP centrestage, could send out wrong signals, besides marring his Prime Ministerial prospects. The BJP top-brass has launched all-out efforts to save the Bihar alliance, with hectic parleys continuing throughout the day. Advani, Rajnath and Murli Manohar Joshi, besides Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal spoke to Nitish Kumar. According to party insiders, BJP patriarch L K Advani is being seen to be playing the NDA Card, by getting the Allies to articulate concerns over the emergence of Modi as the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate. Advani's message is that the party should assure the Allies on the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate to save the NDA. If the JD-U?leaves the NDA, not only they will lose a major party, but also a State Government and the NDA Convener, as the post is held by Yadav. Unmoved by the BJP attempts, Nitish gave no indications of salvaging the alliance in Bihar. Nitish Kumar merely confirmed that he is in talks with various leaders to examine the viability of non-BJP, non-Congress and regional parties coming together to form the Federal Front. Nitish Kumar went on to say that if Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand come together and make "common cause" on problems faced by them, they would be stronger force.