Daring BJP to withdraw support to it in Bihar, JD(U) today said it had not stopped the saffron party on its support to them as it was free to take a Decision.
"We have neither tied the legs of BJP nor bent before them to continue support to us...BJP is independent to take its decision...we will not function on the wishes of BJP," Janata Dal (United) Spokesman Shivanand Tiwari told reporters.
He, however, said "nobody will be happy if the alliance breaks down after 17 years of journey together."
Tiwari, who is leader of JD (U) in Rajya Sabha, said "BJP should respect its allies instead of humiliating them."
He said BJP should not forget that no single party could form government at the Centre anymore.
"Despite claims by Congress and BJP that they are national party, but now there is nothing like that. We are ruling in one state while they are in power in four states...this is the only difference now," said Tiwari, a close confidant of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
"Regional parties have registered tremendous growth in the country due to the fact that the so called national parties neglected the masses," he said adding BJP should understand this.
"We joined hands with the BJP when it was considered as untouchable in Indian politics," he said and suggested the partner party to honour its sentiment and ideological commitment.
The JD(U) leader said his party only reiterated its old stand as what kind of person should occupy a responsible post like that of prime minister. "We fail to understand the way BJP is reacting to it," he said.
Asked that BJP leaders consider Narendra Modi as "secular", the JD(U) leader said why then former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had asked him to follow 'Raj Dharma' and a wrote a letter in the backdrop of a complaint of lowering of compensation for riot victims in Gujarat.
He further said "if BJP considers him (Modi) secular it should declare him as its PM candidate and we'll then decide our stand ."
Tiwari said JD(U) was ready to contest all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar in 2014 general elections.
"Every political party keeps its preparation for contesting all parliamentary constituencies...if a situation comes when BJP decides to contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, then we'll also fight all these seats," he said.