'NDA's PM candidate should have secular credentials'
By PTI - NEW DELHI
19th June 2012 10:52 AM
-
The NDA should have a leader who can feel for the underdeveloped states like Bihar, says the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. PTI photo
In comments which could spell fresh trouble for BJP-JD(U) alliance, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate should be somebody with "secular credentials", apparently giving a thumbs down to his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi.
Even as differences over the Presidential election continue to simmer between BJP and JD(U), Kumar has made comments which are contradictory to his ally's views. He has hinted that Modi--who is being touted as the first choice of BJP for Prime Minister's post--does not fit the bill.
Differing with the BJP view that the Prime Minister will be chosen after the Lok Sabha elections, Kumar said, "The NDA will have to declare its nominee. The electorate should know who they are voting for and who will lead the country. The NDA should have a leader who can feel for the underdeveloped states like Bihar.
"It should not be someone who can develop developed states, but who has a feel for underdeveloped states," he said in an interview to The Economic Times.
Though Kumar has not named anybody, he was apparently referring to Modi, with whom he does not enjoy a healthy relationship. The two had a war of words recently when Kumar attacked Modi for saying Bihar had lagged behind due to caste politics.
Kumar had then said Modi is like the pot calling the kettle black. "One whose hands are full of communalism does not have the moral right to malign others for casteism," Kumar said.
Stressing on declaring the PM candidate in advance, Kumar said, "This leader should be acceptable to every constituent of the alliance. To me, the leader of the coalition should have secular credentials."
Kumar said that the Prime Ministerial candidate should be someone who has absolute faith in democratic values.
"In a multi-religious and multi-lingual country like ours, the leader should not have rough edges in his personality. An alliance can win the confidence of the people only if the leader is seen as accomodating," he said.
The Bihar Chief Minister said he will air these views to NDA allies when the issue comes up.
The chasm between BJP and JD(U) appears to have grown in the recent weeks. Kumar reportedly does not want the NDA to contest the Presidential election and favours a consensus on UPA's nominee Pranab Mukherjee. Many see this as his attempt to maintain good relations with the Congress as he wants to keep his options open in case of a hung Parliament in 2014.
He, however, denied that he was aiming for Prime Ministership. "I am not in the race for Prime Ministership. I cannot even dream of that high office. The Prime Minister should be from the bigger party.
"We can only play a supporting role. But that depends on who leads the alliance. I have already outlined the qualities required of the leader," he said.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid welcomed Kumar's remarks, saying, "We are a secular country, so our Prime Minister must be secular. If there was any doubt about this in any political organisation, their own leaders coming out now and saying this clearly is a welcome thing."
Interestingly, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi backed Kumar. He maintained that the PM candidate should be one having a liberal image like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "He should be acceptable to all sections of the society," he said in Patna.
Related Articles
Post a Comment
Recent Activity
- Madrasi heart for Pakistani Madrassa teacher
- Somayagam returns after 48 years
- The Woolwich 'beheading' is straight out of al-Qaeda's terror manual
- Not a drop of Cauvery for people on its banks
- Dalit discrimination 'forms' in colleges
- Marine turtles giving Kerala a miss
- New mango named Nirbhaya after gang-rape victim
- Shortage of essential TB drug heightens risk to patients, others
- CBSE results likely to be out in 4-5 days
- Sushma upset at Modi role, walks out of BJP meet
- Madrasi heart for Pakistani Madrassa teacher
- Gurunath Meiyappan neither CSK owner nor Team Principal: India Cements
- Chennai Super Kings owner Gurunath Meiyappan arrested
- 56,700 Indians face deportation from Saudi Arabia: Khurshid
- Islamic reformation in India
- Delhi Police seek details of Sreesanth seizures
Comments(19)
Sir, Whether, Mr Nitish kumar likes it or not, Bihar is run by caste based politics. The recent example of an upper-caste leader being murdered and the subsequent reaction to it by the government by imposing curfew etc, goes to demonstrate that people in that state have been nurtured to behave that way. What is wrong in Mr Modi telling an open secret? Mr Nitish seems to giving signals for his own PM aspirations by vouching for the 'Secular' image. The fact is NDA can march ahead without JD(U), given the political equations with ADMK and possibly Jagan etc, but the reverse may not be true for JD(U)...
Posted by Ramanujam at 06/19/2012 11:21 Reply to this Report abuse
BJP should choose whether it should listen to voice of the people or that of sickular people like Nitish. People from North to South of India support Mr. Modi. I am from Kerala ,where BJP was traditionally weak. Come here now & see how much support he has generated among common people. Nitish should undertake a week long tour to Gujarat & see projects like Sabarmathi river front. In 10 years Gujarat will have standards of a developed country. After seeing that Nitish himself would turn over administration of Bihar to Mr.Modi
Posted by pradeep at 06/19/2012 12:07 Reply to this Report abuse
In the present political situation smaller (regional) parties supports who having secular credentials and it increase more acceptable among them. If Modi wants to become PM of this country and RSS having that wishes and dreams party must win more than 200 seats and it will reduces the dependency on smaller parties and also retains the power of choosing its own leader who should become the PM. When go through party presence across the country and its influence impossible to imgine that number of seats and there is no mass appealing leader like Vajpayee apart from Advaniji. Now party is engaged in second generation leaders spat to take over the party mantle from Advaniji and he lost his control over party due to couple of reason infighting and RSS increased its influence in party affairs through its president that has been witnessed in second term for incumbent despite opposed by party founder. Other than Nitish Kumar someone given such statement party would not heed to it and ignore it
Posted by RAGHAVENDRA R PAWAR at 06/19/2012 12:32 Reply to this Report abuse
Modi is a very tall leader for Nitish to comment on.What Modi has said is correct.Bihar and UP have gone to dogs.By talking of secularism Nitish and the congress have been fooling the public.Muslims have lost their current status and are becoming poorer and poorer.In six decades congress has only talked secularism and have done very little for the muslims.Muslims shouuld wake up and support Modi and BJP if they want to see their status improved in five years. Modi has paid a bigger price for the riots but look at how many riots the Congress government has given and still has been in Power. 2014 election is crucial and hence pl. be prepared to elect Modi otherwise you will be a loser and the Nation will be a bigger loser.
Posted by r.r.swami at 06/19/2012 12:39 Reply to this Report abuse
Nitish is trying his level best to project himself as PM candidate. Nitish should understand that like Modi he never won election independently. If he snaps ties with BJP he is doomed. Modi is the right candidate. BJP should ignore and go ahead and project Modi as PM candidate.
Posted by Anand at 06/19/2012 13:48 Reply to this Report abuse