PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's party and BJP-ally JD(U) has made it clear that it will oppose the NDA government's triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha.

"JD(U) has its own stand and would oppose the triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha. We have already made our stand clear on the issue and there is no confusion about it," Bihar industries minister Shyam Rajak said here on Thursday.

Rajak, who is among the eight JD(U) ministers inducted into the Nitish Kumar cabinet recently, told TOI, "JD(U) has a different view from BJP on issues like Article 370 and Article 35A."

Rajak's statement assumes significance in the wake of differences between the two important NDA constituents, BJP and JD(U) in the state and at the Centre. JD(U)'s refusal to join the council of ministers at the Centre with a "symbolic representation" and subsequent decision by BJP not to be given any ministerial berth in the recent cabinet expansion in Bihar, gave rise to speculations that the two partners were not comfortable with each other. However, Nitish categorically denied any differences among the NDA partners and said the alliance is intact in Bihar and at the Centre.

JD(U), at its national executive committee meeting in Patna on June 9, also decided to contest state assembly elections in Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi and J&K on its own.

The new triple talaq bill, approved by the Union Cabinet led by PM Modi on Wednesday, is likely to be presented in the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha beginning on June 17.

