Ending speculations about his party’s widening rift with the JD(U), BJP chief Amit Shah said on Thursday the alliance was “firm” and will contest the next Bihar Assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, remarks hailed by the coalition partner.

Shah was also dismissive of the “anban” (bickering) between the two alliance constituents, saying it was a sign of a “healthy” coalition.He was asked if the BJP is considering fighting the state election, slated to be held by the end of next year, on its own.

Kumar, who is also the JD(U) president, has been at the receiving end of criticism from some BJP leaders, including Union Minister Giriraj Singh, over a host of issues, the latest being the unprecedented “man made” water logging in parts of Patna.

A section of saffron party leaders, including former Union minister Sanjay Paswan had even pitched for Kumar making way for a BJP leader at the helm in the state.“Anban (bickering) is a sign of a healthy coalition. But ‘matbhed’ (difference of opinion) does not necessarily mean there is ‘manbhed’ ,” Shah added.

Shah’s unambiguous endorsement of Kumar’s leadership of the alliance in Bihar is likely to end the bickering among their leaders.After Kumar decided to keep his party out of the Modi government, apparently to protest the offer of only one ministerial berth to his party, unease in the alliance has been palpable.

The JD(U)’s opposition to legislations on triple talaq and scrapping of special status to Jammu and Kashmir further fuelled speculations about fault lines in the alliance.