BJP feels merger of Janata Parivar would pose a "difficult" challenge to it in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls and with stakes high, the Modi government is likely to soon announce a package for the state as promised in the General Budget.
BJP is strongly banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his governance in its ambition to win the crucial polls alone for the first time. The party's focus is expected to be on law and order situation during the present regime of Nitish Kumar as well as corruption during RJD government of Lalu Prasad, a senior BJP leader said in New Delhi on Frifday.
While expressing confidence about BJP emerging victorious, the leader made it clear that the party will face a "difficult" challenge if JD(U) and RJD merge. JD(U) and RJD had earlier agreed to merge but have lately been undecisive on merger.
BJP, on its part, is also keeping its doors are open for dalit leader and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who floated his own party 'Hindustani Awam Morcha'. The party, however, is non-committal on any truck with former RJD MP Pappu Yadav.
Terming as "unnatural" the coming together of JD(U) and RJD, the BJP leader pointed out that the entire politics of Nitish Kumar has been anti-Lalu Prasad and he has benefitted from Lalu-bashing too. "Kumar seems keen on merger than an alliance with Lalu. An alliance will not work, but a merger may be difficult for BJP as it would have to work harder, but we will win," he said.
BJP feels that Kumar has been a "first-class performer" under a stable regime, but has been a "disaster under unstable conditions", which it will highlight in the run up to polls. To woo the electorate in the state, the Centre is likely to announce a 'package' soon as promised in the Union Budget by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
