JD-U decides against joining Modi administration due to "insufficient" seats

Patna: The BJP rejected the Janata Dal-United (JD-U)'s demand for two cabinet positions, the JD-U announced on Sunday that it has opted not to join the Narendra Modi administration at the Centre.

JD-U leader and state minister for education Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said, "We are not going to join the Narendra Modi cabinet. The JD-U needed the desired respect from the BJP but it did not happen. Hence we have decided to avoid inclusion in the Narendra Modi government."

However, he added that this decision "will not affect our alliance with BJP in Bihar".

The statement of Chaudhary is an indication of the sour relationship between JD-U and BJP in Bihar, and this could be the reason for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar maintaining distance from the BJP and skipping the Niti Aayog meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister in Delhi on Sunday, IANS reported.

There appears to be political turmoil in Bihar as sources claim that JD-U has requested a meeting of every MLA, MLC, and MP in the state. Although the date has not yet been decided, it might happen at any time in the following three to four days.

On August 9, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the JD-U both requested a meeting of this nature. The gathering will take place in Patna at Jitan Ram Manjhi's official mansion, the party's headquarters.