Nitish tells BJP not to placate Sharad Yadav

With senior leader Sharad Yadav playing it hard, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has conveyed to BJP leadership that there is no need for them to further placate him.
 
Yadav, a senior JD(U) leader who was the party president before Kumar took over, has been upset with the Chief Minister for his decision to align with BJP after dumping the Grand Alliance partners RJD and Congress.
 
Sources said Kumar has now told the BJP leadership that if Yadav wants to take a separate way he can do that but they need not humour him so much.
 
There was speculation that he would be offered a Cabinet berth in Narendra Modi government. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had met him on last Thursday.
 
Kumar's missive to the BJP was followed up by his unambiguous stand that there is nobody stronger enough to take on Modi in the 2019 elections. Kumar himself was seen as a possible national face against Modi but his decision to align himself with Modi has punctured the Opposition plans.
 
His comments on Modi with regard to the 2019 electoral prospects is also seen as a message to Yadav, who is being counselled by a number of senior Opposition parties.
 
Sources said Yadav may not rock the boat as he is not in an advantageous position to win over leaders.