Kirori threatens to break ties with NPP over BJP

Dausa MLA and Meena community leader Kirori Lal Meena has threatened to break off ties with the National People’s Party if it joins the National Democratic Alliance.

A top party source said NPP national president PA Sangma has communicated the party’s wish to Bharatiya Janata Party national president Rajnath Singh, senior BJP leader LK Advani and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Party sources said Sangma sent a letter to Advani on January 22, 2014, Singh on February 13, 2014 and Modi on February 14 expressing his desire to join the NDA.

NPP Rajasthan state president Sunil Bhargava confirmed that talks with the senior BJP and RSS leaders were on, adding the ball was now in the court of BJP to decide about the alliance.

However, Meena, who is Rajasthan patron of National People’s Party said: “I am unaware of any letters written by Sangma to BJP leaders. If NPP joins NDA then I will end my ties with the party.”

On Sangma’s direction, former Union minister Arvind Netram and Sunil Bhargava from NPP Rajasthan even met BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh senior leaders in Delhi and the response seems to be positive.

NPP has expressed its wish to contest 13 parliamentary seats in India, including two in Rajasthan, namely Dausa and Sawai Madhopur-Tonk parliamentary constituencies. The final decision is yet to take place.

Meena enjoys extensive support from the Meena community in the Dausa belt. But given the antipathy between Raje and Meena, party leaders are skeptical if the alliance between the NPP and the NDA will fructify.

Differences cropped up between Raje and Meena during the 2008 assembly elections and he later quit the BJP and contested independently.