BJP legislator backs Nitish Kumar as PM

A day after a Bihar BJP legislator was suspended for anti-party activities, another legislator, Rana Gangeshwar Singh, Monday said he wanted to see JD-U leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and not Narendra Modi as the next prime minister.

Gangeshwar Singh, the BJP legislator from Mohiuddinnagar in Samastipur district, said people of Bihar should vote for the Janata Dal-United in the next general election so that the party wins at least 30 of the 40 seats.

"After that, no one can stop Nitish Kumar from becoming the next prime minister. It would a matter of pride for Bihar," Gangeshwar Singh told IANS.

Both Gangeshwar Singh and onother BJP legislator, Vijay Kumar Mishra, have questioned the suspension of legislator-colleague Amarnath Gami from the party. Gami was suspended Sunday.

The duo said Gami's suspension was "unfortunate" and there was "no internal democracy in the BJP".

Mishra, the BJP legislator from Jale seat in Darbhanga, said he would support a party that helps him develop his constituency.

"For me, the party hardly matters. People want development, nothing less," he said.

BJP vice president C.P. Thakur admitted some party leaders were unhappy with the state party leadership.

After the JD-U dumped the BJP last month over Modi, speculation is rife that some BJP legislators may join the JD-U.