JD(U) slams leader for backing Pranab

Introduction: Following party leader Shivanand Tiwari’s remark absolving the UPA and Mukherjee of blame for the price rise, Sharad Yadav said the UPA was responsible for the economic mess. He also said the NDA was united and would stay that way

The JD(U) on Saturday rebuffed party leader Shivanand Tiwari’s remark absolving the UPA and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee of responsibility for the economic slide, and sought to play down the rift perception with the BJP.

“We consider the Congress and the the UPA responsible for the mess the country is in today,” party chief Sharad Yadav said. The JD(U) president also described as inaccurate the widely held perception of a split with the BJP. “The support of the JD(U) to the UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee is no indication of any rift in the NDA. The NDA is united and will remain so,” JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav told reporters here in remarks aimed at thawing the bitterness in ties.

Yadav’s remarks came a day after the party’s leader in Rajya Sabha Shivanand Tiwari stunned political circles by questioning BJP’s criticism of the handling of economy under Mukherjee. Tiwari had ascribed the poor performance of economy to global factors, a stance which appeared to be at odds with the party’s participation in the Bharat Bandh organized to protest against the government’s alleged failure on the economic front.

Yadav suggested that Tiwari spoke out of turn, and emphasized that party leaders should consult him or Bihar CM Nitish Kumar before speaking on issues.

Yadav’s remarks came against the backdrop of tension between the NDA allies, starting with Kumar’s public opposition to Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial aspirations. The disconnect became stark when the JD(U) broke away from the BJP to endorse the UPA nominee Mukherjee for Rashtrapati Bhawan. The affection for Mukherjee baffled and annoyed the saffron partner that finds JD(U)’s explanation — desire to avoid acrimony in an election that the UPA is certain to win — to be non-political and, therefore, unconvincing.

After maintaining silence, BJP pushed back on Thursday when it dismissed the controversy over Modi’s candidature as irrelevant. Tiwari’s public defence of Mukherjee threatened to heighten the chill in relations. Yadav’s repudiation of Tiwari’s remarks appear to also have been prompted by the recognition that it should not be seen as supporting policies which have, in the party’s viewpoint, contributed to price rise.