Truce: Sushil Modi to attend Nitish's yatra

Patna: Tensions ease between the JD (U) and the BJP as Bihar's deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Modi is all set to join the Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's Vishwas Yatra in Auranagabad.

Modi will rejoin Nitish in the Vishvash Yatra after days of uncertainty over the fate of the 15-year-old alliance that has been on the rocks ever since the Gujarat government claimed credit for the Kosi flood aid.

The spat took an ugly turn when Kumar cancelled his Vishwas Yatra programme in Gulzarbagh, a constituency held by the BJP. Nitish even wanted Narendra Modi not be allowed to campaign in Bihar during the forthcoming assembly polls.

Despite BJP claims of back channel communication with JD(U) in a "cordial atmosphere", the strain in relationship between the two in Bihar was once again visible Friday with the saffron party deferring a decision on participating in the next 'Vishwas Yatra' in Gaya.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari held a meeting with Bihar party unit Chief C P Thakur and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi to discuss the alliance with JD(U). Central leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Shahnawaz Hussain, who hail from the state, were also present.

Soon after the meeting, some of the senior leaders from the state maintained that Sushil Modi will not participate in the rally. However, the Central leadership insisted that no directions had been given to party's Bihar unit about the Vishwas Yatra.

"Reports in the media are baseless. No directions have been issued to the state unit on whether to attend or not to attend the Vishwas Yatra," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

Sources claimed communication between the two parties is taking place "in a cordial atmosphere". Hussain said the meeting between Gadkari and Bihar leaders did not discuss the rally due to the deaths of former Union Minister and MP Digvijay Singh and Sudha Srivastava, Minister of Planning in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's cabinet.

Meanwhile, top brass of the JD(U) and the BJP are in touch with each other, according to sources.

(With inputs from Agencies)