Bihar BJP shuns Hindutva, plays development tune

PATNA: Instead of running its election campaign on the Hindutva plank, Bihar BJP is willing to play the development tune before voters. Though BJP���s party manifesto is couched in Hindutva, saffron party leaders in Bihar are willing to take the development agenda before the electorate.

���Thanks to the sins committed by the Rabri-Lalu regime, Bihar has remained a laggard state. What we, therefore, need today is development. Yes, we have our manifesto, but the cause of development is far more important for the state and its people,��� State���s deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told ET when asked why they were silent on the Ram Temple issue.

Call it the sobering influence of the chief minister Nitish kumar, the saffron party seems to have remodelled itself and has adopted an electoral strategy which ���will be acceptable to one and all, including the minorities���. Perhaps a pep talk by the chief minister has convinced the state BJP leadership to downplay its Hindutva agenda.

���The Nitish model of inclusive growth for all the sections of the society without discriminating anyone on the basis of religion and caste remains the credo of the NDA government in Bihar. Why should BJP have reservation to such a policy which promises development for all sections,��� asked JD(U) national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari.

Willing to tone down its Hindutva voice, the state BJP leadership has also not invited Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in Bihar. Unlike the other states where Narendra Modi is a much sought after leader for the state BJP units, he has not found a taker from the Bihar unit. ���Why should Narendra Modi come to Bihar? The state BJP is competent to handle its campaigning job. Moreover, we have our own Modi (Sushil Kumar Modi) whose political credentials are no less,��� said chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Clearly, JD(U) believes that Narendra Modi, the Hindutva mascot of the saffron Party, may spoil the party for NDA if he campaigns in favour of BJP candidates in Bihar.