Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav on Monday said that senior BJP leader L K Advani’s resignation from the three party posts he held in the BJP was ‘not good for the NDA’s health’ and was indeed a serious issue. He said that the JD (U) will hold its party meeting on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.
Yadav, who is also the convener of NDA remarked, “I am deeply saddened by Advaniji’s resignation, because NDA was formed because of the hard work of Atalji and Advaniji” Yadav said his JD (U) would discuss the issue at its meeting on Tuesday
In Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the JD(U) would discuss all aspects of the issue and would spell out its stand. Speaking to reporters, Nitish said, “We will come out with our stand on the issue after examining the entire situation and after considering all the aspects.”
He, however, denied reports which claimed that BJP president Rajnath Singh had talked to him ahead of the decision to formally anoint Modi.
JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi told the media that Advani had been “humiliated” and “ the NDA is now on ventilator support”
Another constituent of the NDA, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) refused to comment on Advani’s resignation. SAD (B) president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said, that Advani’s resignation was party’s internal matter.
“The Akali Dal is with the BJP, we have nothing to do with Advani’s resignation,” he said.
He said the SAD was an inseparable part of the NDA and would continue to support the BJP.
NDA constituent Shiv Sena’s president Uddhav Thackeray issued a statement on Monday evening stating, “Advani’s decision to resign gives (us a great deal of) pain. He has worked selflessly to build the organisation and party, his contribution is immense. One cannot think about the BJP and the NDA without A B Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani”
Uddhav further said that the new generation needs Advani’s guidance and “he will have to change his mind and withdraw his resignation”.