BJP pulls up Digvijay Singh, says 'Modi is indeed a very popular leader'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday lashed out at Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh following his criticism of Narendra Modi, saying the Gujarat Chief Minister is indeed a very popular leader enjoying the trust of the people and party cadres.

"Mr. Narendra Modi is indeed a very popular leader. The people trust him, the cadres trust him. And how Digvijay is taken I am not to comment, I don't think even his party takes him seriously," said BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Launching a frontal attack on Modi, Digvijay Singh earlier in the day tweeted: "Can a person who divided the Social Fabric of Gujarat divided BJP and now the NDA ever lead India which believes in "Vasudev Kutumbakam"?"

The Congress General Secretary's criticism for Modi came in wake of the Janata Dal (United) contemplating over ending its 18-year-old alliance with the BJP.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who returned from a tour to Patna yesterday, made it clear that there is a strain in the ties between the Janata Dal (United) and the BJP, and said that the current situation of the coalition is very difficult.

"And, we have to now decide on what to do in this difficult situation. Talks are going on from almost all quarters. On one hand, they are saying that the alliance should continue for its very old. On the other hand, the situation is such... there are difficulties," said Kumar.

"Dua dete hai jeene ki, dawa karte hai marne ki (You wish me a long life, but offer medicines that will poison me)," he added.

The JD (U), which is upset over Modi being elevated as the chairman of BJP's campaign committee for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, has 118 MLAs in 243-member Bihar assembly. It needs the support of only four more MLAs to reach the magic figure.

There are 91 MLAS from BJP, 21 from RJD and one each from LJP and CPI in the state assembly.