Nitish puts the ball in BJP court to decide on Modi issue

"BJP has to solve this. We are in favour of the old arrangment," Kumar told reporters here referring to JD(U) opposition to the presence of Modi during the campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.

"I hope they (BJP) will be able to solve the issue in an appropriate manner," Kumar said indicating that the BJP will concede to the demands of JD(U) to keep Modi away from Bihar.

To a question on his party leader Shivanand Tiwari wanting to break up the alliance with the BJP, he said the party followed democratic norms where everyone has right to express his or her views."

Asked whether any possibility of Ayodhya cout verdict having any effect on Bihar Assembly elections, he said the JD(U) stand has been to resolve the issue either through dialogue or through court.

"All should accept the decision of the court. Any aggrieved party can always move the higher court. There should not be any controversy on court's decision. We are against people who create trouble," he said.

The Bihar CM said he has explained JD(U) stand on the Ayodhya issue to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley during their meeting in Patna yesterday.

Kumar said the issue of seat sharing with BJP will be settled before September 27 when the notification for the first phase of election is issued.

He said like previous occasion JD(U) and BJP will have separate election manifestoes and indicated that common minimum programme could be issued, if the alliance returned to power.

Kumar has asked the Election Commission and Centre to provide adequate central forces to cover all booths during elections.