KC Tyagi says JD(U) ready to join Union Cabinet if invited

The Janta Dal (United) party on Wednesday said that it is ready to join the Union Cabinet on a 'proportional basis' if the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) extends an invitation. While addressing a press conference post attending the JD(U) National Council Meeting, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said that the party was ready to join the government in the center if they are invited to join the government by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President and Home Minister Amit Shah.

"We want unity and harmony in the country. JD(U) is ready to join the Union Cabinet on a proportionate basis after getting an invitation from Narendra Modi and Amit Shah," Tyagi said while addressing the media. 

The announcement came as Nitish Kumar was re-elected as JD(U) party's president at the party's National Council meeting. Earlier during the formation of the cabinet, JD(U) had chosen to keep itself out of the central government. While interacting with the reporters in Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said that he had received an invitation from the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) but would not be a part of the government. JD(U) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) are running the government together in Bihar. The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) Currently has 16 members in the Lok Sabha and the BJP has 303 members.

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Nitish Kumar defeated BJP in 2015

While being a part of the opposition's grand alliance in Bihar, Nitish Kumar had defeated the BJP led NDA government in 2015, but later joined hands with the party after having differences with the RJD. During the 2019 Lok Sabha election, BJP and JD(U) had won 17 and 16 seats respectively in the state followed by six of the Ram Vilas Paswan-led LJP. 

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In his speech, Kumar batted for nation-wide prohibition, spoke at length about his government's pro-women measures and rejected criticism over law and order issues in Bihar. He also pitched for value-based politics, saying Mahatma Gandhi's concept of 'seven social sins' should be part of political campaigns. Tyagi also asserted that there is no "confusion" in his party's alliance with the BJP after Shah's recent statement that the NDA will fight the 2020 assembly polls in Bihar under Kumar's leadership.

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(With inputs from ANI)