JDU not to join Union cabinet

Patna, May.30 (HS): Irked over the suggestion of ” symbolic representation” by alliance partners in the Narendra Modi ministry,JDU president and Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar on Thursday evening declined the offer and asked his MPs not  to join the Union cabinet.

Chief Minister who is camping in New  Delhi for the last two days, turned down the suggestion of the BJP president, Amit Shah and party general secretary in-charge of Bihar, Bhupinder Yadav and declared “the symbolic representation is not acceptable to use, but we would continue to support NDA from outside”.

JDU president had recommended inclusion of three of its MPs in the union cabinet. Name of the JDU national secretary general, RCPSinha,a member of Rajya Sabha ,was final till last stage, but the rigid stand of the BJP to have just one representation from  JDU was not acceptable.

There are 16 members of JDU in Lok Sabha and six in Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha vice-chairman, Haribansh Singh is also from JDU.

Nitish Kumar said last evening and this morning too, Amit Shah had telephoned to him and said BJP wanted only one minister from JDU in the union cabinet. Bhupinder Yadav called on him this morning as repeated the offer of symbolic representation of JDU. Nitish kumar said, the party MPs met him at his Kamraj Lane bungalow on Thursday again and did not accept the offer of the BJP.

Nitish Kumar said, he was not unhappy with the offer of the BJP, but JDU leaders from Bihar were against accepting the suggestion.” We are not interested in joining the government”,he said.There is no confusiuon in the JDU, he said.

Nitish Kumar regretted the JDU did not get representation according to its strength in the Parliament.