Patna: While BJP has been demanding implementation of National Register of Citizenship (NRC) across India, it’s alliance partner JD(U) is in dilemma over the issue.

JD(U) leaders in Patna said that the party would clear its stand on NRC after consulting leaders all across the country. Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who has been maintaining silence on the issue, also gave similar hints while talking to reporters on the issue.

Several JD(U) leaders including the party’s national vice president Prashant Kishor had earlier reacted strongly to the exclusion of around 19 lakh people from the final list of NRC in Assam.

He had termed the exercise as “botched up” and said that NRC has left Lakhs of people as foreigners in their own country.

Recently after Home minister Amit Shah gave a statement in the Rajya Sabha and claimed that the NRC process will be carried out across the country, Prashant Kishor had raised his opposition and said, “15 plus states with more than 55 per cent of India’s population have non- BJP ministers. Wonder how many of them are consulted and are on- board for NRC in their respective states.”

His statement was earlier taken as JD(U)’s official line on NRC. However, political analysts now feel that JD(U) is talking about consulting its leaders after Home minister Amit Shah gave a statement in the Parliament.

Analysts are of the opinion that JD(U) has to be careful in order to keep its secular vote bank intact in Bihar. Sources claim that chief minister Nitish Kumar has been worried after BJP leaders recently adopted an aggressive approach and demanded NRC to be implemented in Bihar especially in the Seemanchal region, which accounts for more than 40 per cent Muslim population.