JDU squirms at Modi-for-PM demand, awaits BJP's official stand

The party said it will wait for BJP's "official stand" on the issue as its leader Nitish Kumar has already conveyed JD(U)'s views on NDA Prime Ministerial candidate.

"Whatever we had to say on the issue (of who should be NDA's PM candidate) our leader Nitish Kumar has already conveyed to the BJP.... He has also spoken clearly about what kind of a person should be the Prime Ministerial candidate. So the ball is in BJP's court," JD(U) spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari told reporters.

Kumar, who has had reservations on sharing stage with Modi and his campaigning in Bihar, earlier broadly indicated to the BJP that the Gujarat Chief Minister with his Hindutva hardliner image will not be acceptable to JD(U) as the NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate. The Bihar Chief Minister had also said publicly that NDA's candidate for the post should be somebody who is secular and is acceptable across the board.

"JD(U) will react to whatever official stand BJP takes on the issue. We do not consider Sinha's statement as BJP's official view," Tiwari said, adding,"JD(U) does not need any suggestion on who should be made Prime Ministerial candidate or not. There is no need (for Sinha) to be in an advisory role."

But BJP's oldest NDA ally clarified that the Prime Ministerial candidate should be from the BJP.

"We have no objection and in fact we believe that BJP is the biggest party in the alliance so if it comes to forming a stable government, a leader from the BJP should become the PM. Nitish Kumar has already said this," Tiwari said.