With the JD(U)-led alliance declaring Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as its face for Bihar Assembly polls due later this year, former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday said BJP will take a decision on the NDA leadership in the poll-bound state at an opportune time.
"The BJP central leaders are keeping a close watch on political development in Bihar... they will take a decision on the leadership issue of the BJP-led NDA in the poll-bound state at an opportune time," he told reporters on sidelines of 'Janata Durbar' at his residence here. Modi sought to keep the chief ministerial aspirants from his party as well as those from allies guessing on the leadership issue by saying that it was for the BJP national leaders and its parliamentary board in particular to decide whether they will go for individual leadership or collective one in the state polls.
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has thrown down the gauntlet at BJP to declare its chief ministerial candidate for Bihar Assembly polls within 24 hours after he had declared the incumbent CM Nitish Kumar as the JD(U)-led alliance's face in the upcoming polls in the state. On the seat sharing talks between the BJP and its allies for the Bihar Assembly polls, Modi refused to get drawn into details but said the NDA constituents will contest the Assembly polls together as the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) were very much part of the coalition government at the Centre.
With Bihar scheduled to go for legislative council polls on 24 seats next month - an event deemed as a virtual semifinal for the much-anticipated Assembly polls later this year, the former deputy CM said though the council polls were significant it will have no bearing on the Assembly polls. "Every election is different and the outcome of one such election has no bearing on the next one," he said.
