'Modi's elevation internal matter'

The NDA ally says a prime ministerial candidate should have secular credentials

The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday reacted cautiously to the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, over whom it has reservations, to BJP’s parliamentary board, saying it was an “internal matter” of its ally.     

“It (elevation of Narendra Modi) is an internal matter of  BJP at the national level,” JD(U) Bihar unit JD(U) spokesman Niraj Kumar said.

On whether Modi’s elevation was an indicator of his projection as prime ministerial candidate, Kumar said: “JD(U) leadership’s stand in this regard has been known to one and all. We believe a prime ministerial candidate should have secular credentials, to take along diverse groups of people of the country.”

The JD(U) spokesman said the “Bihar Model” of development was the only guiding mantra on which the country could move forward, by representing the aspirations of all sections of society.