He called for old arrangement, according to which Narendra Modi, was not to campaign in Bihar.

Talking to newsmen in Delhi as well as Patna he said “our stand is well known. We are in favour of the old arrangement. We have made it clear that the arrangement that was there last time will continue this time too.”

Narendra Modi was kept away from campaigning in the last parliamentary election as well as the last assembly election held in 2005.

Interestingly, Nitish left the matter to the BJP to resolve saying it was their internal arrangement. “Let them solve it on their own and I feel that they will solve it in an appropriate manner.”

Only a day earlier several BJP leader including Shatrughan Sinha, Syed Shahnawaz Husain, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Nitish’s minister Giriraj Singh openly said that Narendra Modi would definitely campaign in Bihar, while Kalraj Mishra said that he will do so, if it is required.

Party insiders are of the view that the Janata Dal (United) is seriously concerned and is waiting for the court ruling on Ayodhya which is to come on September 24. It is coming so close to the election and on the eve of the festival season that the party is unable to chalk out its strategy. The shadow boxing over Narendra Modi is costing the Janata Dal (United) both the Hindu as well as Muslim votes.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal has already accused Nitish Kumar of keeping Congress in good humour for the post-poll alliance, if the BJP fails to get enough seat.

Various media reports, quoting the recent internal survey carried by the BJP, suggested that the saffron party is likely to get just 30-34 seats in the coming assembly election. This would be a fall by as high as 20 seats, which is a cause of concern for both the BJP as well as partner the Janata Dal (United), which lost several senior leaders to other parties, especially the RJD and even Congress, recently.

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