New Delhi: While the Janata Dal United has hardened its stand against the Bharatiya Janata Party with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar calling a meeting of the JD(U) leaders to discuss the partys alliance with the BJP, JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan has indicated that if Bihar is given backward state status, supporting the Congress cannot be ruled out.

“In politics, all possibilities are open. Right now we are a part of the NDA and our first priority is to take a decision on this alliance,” Ranjan said when asked if the JD(U) will be willing to form an alliance with the Congress if the UPA government grants Bihar backward state status.

The coronation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the BJPs poll panel chief for the upcoming general elections is now leading to a certain exit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of Nitish Kumar. An all out war on Modi was launched by the JD(U) on Wednesday. “If BJP chooses a man who was involved in the 2002 (Gujarat) riots and wants to make him a leader, it will not be accepted by us,” said JD(U) leader Narendra Singh.

But the damage to JD(U)-BJP alliance seems to have been done and the only thing left now perhaps is a formal announcement. Meanwhile, the Congress has hinted that it is willing to welcome the Bihar Chief Minister for an alliance. “All secular parties are welcome within the UPA,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said on Wednesday.

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla also welcomed reports of the JD(U)-BJP split. “They have made it clear that they will not make any compromises on secularism. We want more people to follow the path of secularism, so that peace prevails in society and India flourishes. A country where people are fighting among themselves can never progress,” Shukla said.