‘Gujarat polls to decide if Modi or Nitish better PM nominee’

He said a big majority for the party in Gujarat “might also tempt the central leadership to throw its weight behind Modi even if it means to displease some NDA partners”. Thakur,who denied receiving any gag order from the party high command for targeting Kumar of late,said the BJP “could think of a PM candidate who can help increase its Lok Sabha tally in states like Tamil Nadu,West Bengal,Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh” besides boosting its strength in strongholds.

He,however,said the NDA had been non-committal on declaring NDA candidate before the 2014 election because it continued “to be mired in moderate face versus ‘hardcore face’ dilemma”.

Thakur,who has sent 20 BJP workers to Gujarat,said he would schedule his Gujarat trip after November 15. “BJP ministers Ashwini Choubey and Giriraj Singh have already agreed to visit Gujarat. As Narendra Modi has invited all party leaders,I will also ask Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi to visit the state to campaign,” Thakur said,adding that there was nothing wrong with party leaders from two states reciprocating. He denied that there were two camps within the state BJP over extending support to Modi.

Asked about possible displeasure of the Bihar Chief Minister over BJP’s “over indulgence” with Modi,Thakur said it was purely an internal matter of the BJP and the alliance partner should have no objection to it.

He,however,said the party was happy with Nitish Kumar for saying that the JD-U and the BJP would contest the next Lok Sabha polls together. Asked if Kumar had to soften his stand on the BJP after “not-so-successful” Adhikar Yatra,Thakur said: “It is quite possible. Nitishji has also decided against going to Gujarat to campaign for the JD-U that is contesting alone.”