Bihar BJP requests Modi to contest from state

The Bihar unit of the BJP Wednesday requested the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to contest from a constituency in the state in the 2014 general elections.

Former deputy chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushil Kumar Modi told media persons here that the party has requested Narendra Modi to contest from any parliamentary seat in Bihar.

"We hope for a positive response as it would provide an advantage to the BJP in Bihar. BJP leaders and workers will ensure that Narendra Modi wins hands down from any seat in Bihar in the next general elections," he said.

All 12 BJP parliamentarians are keen to vacate their seats to enable Narendra Modi to contest from their seat, Sushil Kumar Modi said.

A formal proposal has been sent to the party's central leadership apprising it about the demand of the Bihar unit that Modi contest from the state, but the final decision would be taken by the party's parliamentary board, he said.

Earlier, BJP vice president C.P. Thakur and BJP legislator Griraj Singh had invited Narendra Modi to contest from Bihar.

Thakur and Singh had requested Modi to contest from Nalanda, the home district of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

State BJP president Mangal Pandey Tuesday requested Modi to visit Bihar again. Pandey said Modi was likely to visit Bihar either December-end or early January.

It will be the Gujarat chief minister's third visit to Bihar as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. Modi visited Bihar Oct 27 and addressed a rally in Patna's Gandhi Maidan when a series of bomb blasts left seven people dead.

Modi again visited Bihar Nov 2 to meet the families of the victims.