War in NDA over Nitish’s DNA

Three years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s DNA at a political rally during 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha has raked up the issue, hitting out at Nitish.

“During 2015 polls, Prime Minister Modi had questioned your DNA. You took it personally and decided to send the samples. It’s three years now. The report must have come by now. Share your DNA report,” a visibly angry Kushwaha told Nitish at a rally in Muzaffarpur.

Kushwaha, who has a running feud with Nitish, was apparently miffed with the Bihar chief minister after the JD (U) strongman refused to join issues with the Union minister.

“I don’t want to stoop to low level. Neither I want the public discourse to be brought down, nor is it necessary for me to react on all the issues,” Nitish said, when asked whether he ever told Kushwaha that he would relinquish Bihar chief minister's post after 2020.

Last week, Kushwaha had stunned everyone when he made a disclosure that Nitish had once told him that he would give up chief-ministership after 2020.

Nitish’s aides attacked the Union minister fiercely, telling Kushwaha that “CM’s chair was not rasogulla or mutton rice, where you can satiate your desire after eating it.”

Piqued at the stand of Nitish and his aides, Kushwaha hit back.

“You have said I am not worthy of comment. By saying this, you have relegated me to a lowly position, while keeping yourself at high pedestal. Is this the way an elder brother (Nitish) treats his younger brother (Kushwaha),” said the Union minister for state for HRD.

The relationship between Kushwaha and Nitish soured further ever since last month when BJP chief Amit Shah said that the BJP and the JD (U) would enter into a 50:50 formula for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, leaving little room for other smaller allies.