Hit back but with restraint: BJP to its Bihar leaders

While the central leadership was authorised to take a call on the alliance,Rajnath Singh on Thursday authorised the state leaders to confront barbs hurled at the party by JDU with appropriate reaction firmed up by state core group leaders. He,however,is learnt to have warned that reckless reaction not approved by the state core group will not tolerated.

The message was very clear. BJP will not pull the trigger. Our state leaders should be restrained. But any unwarranted attack from the JDU on our leaders in the state will not go unchallenged and will be responded in a befitting manner, said a source who attended the meeting.

But reflecting on their one-to-one interaction with central leaders,some state leaders said that central leaderships queries indicated preparations for life without JDU in Bihar. Consequently,as a pre-emptive measure,the central leadership asked them to intensify organisational work to strengthen the party. The sense that we have been given is to work with a view of life without JDU or Nitish in the state in next election, said a state core group leader.