Headlines
Bihar poll: BJP uncertain on naming CM candidate
Bihar poll: BJP uncertain on naming CM candidate
By Brajendra Nath Singh
New Delhi, 8 June In wake of Nitish Kumar's announcement as the chief ministerial candidate of JD-U-RJD-Congress combine for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls, the BJP is a dilemma whether it should also announce its candidate for the top post or bank on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity.
The party's poll debacle in Delhi has sent the leadership guessing whether to bank on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image or to go with a popular face from the state only.
Since the BJP's state unit leadership does not have any match to the stature of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the central leadership is in a bind over the issue.
Inputs from central leadership clearly indicated that party is not going to repeat the Delhi experiment, where former IPS officer Kiran Bedi was declared the party's chief ministerial candidate at the very last moment. Till then, the party had banked on Modi's charisma.
If the party decides to go in elections with a face, it will have the option to select its chief ministerial candidate only from within the party's state unit. Even the RSS has suggested the party honour its cadres hard work and sacrifices rather than imposing leaders from outside.
"Party insiders feels that it will be better for the party if it decides to go on Maharashtra and Haryana formula, where party banked on Modi and won handsomely," a central functionary of team Amit Shah told IANS on condition of anonymity.
If the BJP decides to go in the elections with having declaring its chief ministerial candidate, there will be possibility of increasing infighting which may hamper the party's prospects, he added.
Former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi is said to be a strong contender for the post, but names of union ministers Radha Mohan Singh, Rajeev Pratap Rudy and Ravi Shankar Prasad and Nand Kishor Yadav are also doing the rounds in political circles.
"Our parliamentary board will decide the issue as and when required," Prasad told reporters when asked whether BJP will bank on Modi's popularity or will announce its chief ministerial candidate.
However, he denied that that he is in race for the top post. "I am not interested at all," he said.
Making light of the opposition combine, he said: "Nitish wants to develop Bihar with Lalu Prasad, the man who ruined Bihar. People of Bihar want change and so they will vote for change and development this time." .
BJP ally, Lok Janshakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan has already denied that he is in the race for the post.
Ho told reporters in Mumbai that Prime Minister Modi will decide about the chief ministerial candidate of the NDA.
7 hours ago
'Ukraine counts on US support no matter who wins election', says Zelensky after meeting Trump
14 hours ago
Consulate General of India denounces vandalism at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento.
14 hours ago
Blinken meets Yunus, engages in "productive discussions" to strengthen economic and political ties.
14 hours ago
Hezbollah Commander dies in Israeli airstrike; US urges 21-day ceasefire.
15 hours ago
Indian diaspora set to influence the upcoming US presidential elections.
15 hours ago
Donald Trump announces plans to meet Zelenskyy at Trump Tower on Friday.
15 hours ago
Canadian MP Chandra Arya condemns calls for a renewed inquiry into the Air India Kanishka bombing.
17 hours ago
UPI pips credit cards as preferred payment method in India
17 hours ago
‘Made in India’ iPhone 16 flies off the shelves in aspirational India
17 hours ago
PM Modi's policies reshaping women's role in India's workforce: Mansukh Mandaviya
17 hours ago
Centre blocks some websites exposing Aadhaar, PAN details
17 hours ago
Union Health Ministry releases new guidelines for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
17 hours ago
Mumbai schoolgirl is world’s youngest to get shoulder-level arm transplant