With Nitish silent,JDU plays wait and watch

Even as BJP workers celebrated the elevation of Narendra Modi,Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,who concluded a fresh leg of his Sewa Yatra

Even as BJP workers celebrated the elevation of Narendra Modi,Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,who concluded a fresh leg of his Sewa Yatra,having toured Madhepura,Araria and Bhagalpur,maintained a stoic silence on the matter.

At Dharhara village in Bhagalpur,the police had to cordon off adjoining minority-dominated Lattipakad village to stall the media and local Muslim leaders from asking Nitish questions on Modi. Imarat Shariah,a socio-religious organisation of the minority community,however,wanted Nitish to take a stand to reaffirm his secular credentials. Imarat Shariahs Nazim Maulana Anisur Rehman Quasmi said,Now that Modi is the BJP campaign chief,Nitish should take a call; if he seeks our advice,we can surely give him suggestions.

A section of the JDU leadership is of the view that the party should severe ties with the BJP to play up its secular credentials and score over the RJD. However,party sources said the final decision rested with Nitish,who is focussing on his Sewa Yatra to woo back voters after the recent loss at Assembly bypoll.

A fortnight ago,Nitish had made it clear that party had taken a stand on the NDA PM at its Delhi national executive and would abide by the deadline given to the BJP. But with the Bihar BJP inviting the Gujarat CM to attend the partys Hunkar rally in October here,the JDU finds itself pushed to the wall. JDU leaders,however,put up brave front. It is an internal decision of the BJP that has come after a lot of resistance within the party. We are concerned only about the NDA PM candidate, said JDU Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar. JDU national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari said,It is upto senior party leaders to assess what Modis elevation means. In any case,the party has taken a stand at its national executive.

Bihar BJP leaders,minister Giriraj Singh and BJP national secretary Rameshwar Chaurasia,both Modi supporters,said the party workers were enthused with Modis elevation.

Modi to address Patna rally

PATNA: Narendra Modi will address Bharatiya Janata Partys Hunkar rally in Patna on October 27. Modi has accepted an invitation to attend the rally, state unit BJP chief Mangal Pandey said on Sunday in a statement issued from Panjim in Goa,venue of BJPs national executive.

Pandey also hailed Modis appointment as the BJP election campaign committee chairman and said the decision would enthuse party workers and enable them to work hard to oust the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. PTI