Bihar CM in the firing line of RSS

Sangh suggests BJP to contest elections alone

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has escalated its attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for “his prime minister should have secular credentials” remarks terming such approach as “flawed and treacherous” and suggested that BJP should be ready to contest the 2014 elections alone.

An article that has appeared in the latest issue of RSS mouthpiece “Organiser” said that the demand made by the Bihar chief minister aimed at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is a “Muslim-centric thinking”, which is “not only flawed, but a treacherous attempt to isolate BJP and its parent body RSS and push them on the defensive”.

In the backdrop of Kumar’s remarks and JD (U) breaking ranks with NDA to support UPA’s candidate for Presidential elections Pranab Mukherjee, the article written by G V L Narasimha Rao, former member of the BJP National Executive further suggests that “BJP should be prepared to fight elections on its own”.

Backing Modi to be the prime ministerial candidate for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the article argues polarisation of elctorate on communal lines has proved beneficial for BJP.

“Muslims’ rapid opposition to the BJP has indeed proved to be beneficial to it electorally,” the article said, citing the rise of BJP during the communally-charged atmosphere in the 1990s in the wake of demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992.

The article reflects the fissures that have begun appearing in wake of the JD(U) decision to back Mukherjee and Kumar’s secular-face-for-PM remarks made in an interview to a national daily targeting the potential prime ministerial candidate Modi.

 Asserting that he is not in the race for top job, Kumar in his interview insisted that NDA should name its prime ministerial candidate before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the candidate must have secular credentials.

Though the Bihar chief minister did not name any one, his candid comments were aimed at Modi, considered the preferred choice of Sangh Parivar to be the Prime Minister.

Earlier, reacting to Kumar’s comments, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had asked why a Hindutva face should not lead the nation.