Mumbai:
With JU(U) looking set to walk out of the NDA, Shiv Sena on Thursday sounded a note of caution for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying BJP was like "oxygen" to his government, which could land in "ICU" in the event of a split.
"BJP is like oxygen to the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar as it is for Shiromani Akali Dal government in Punjab," Sena, the BJP's oldest ally, said in party mouthpiece "Saamana".
"Sabse bada rupaiya...sabse badi satta is the norm in present times. When there is adequate oxygen supply to stay in power, why should anyone create problems for themselves and get admitted to the ICU.
Be it Nitish Kumar or anybody else," an editorial in the daily newspaper said. It also said today's politics was more about "pragmatism and practicality than idealism".
Underlining the importance of Hindu votes, the editorial said, "Give respect to earn respect. Just like Muslim votes, Hindu votes can also prove to be decisive and this has been illustrated by the Maharajganj Lok Sabha by-poll results."
There were reports suggesting that BJP workers did notactively back JD(U) nominee in Maharajganj leading to hisdefeat despite a high-profile campaign launched by NitishKumar for his confidante and Bihar's Human Resource MinisterP K Sahi.
The editorial hit out at the Congress for gloating overthe recent developments in the BJP. "Advani had resigned from all posts in BJP but not aschairman of NDA.
If Congress says it is still strong despiteTMC and DMK quitting UPA, who told them that NDA hasweakened," the editorial said, adding, "it is the Congresswhich is responsible for weakening of moral values inpolitics."
