BJP jittery after talk of PM Narendra Modi presence at Nitish Kumar's swearing-in ceremony

PATNA: The diplomatic stance of caretaker CM Nitish Kumar on the possibility of PM Narendra Modi's participation in his swearing-in ceremony as CM for the fifth time slated for November 20 here has left the Bihar BJP fuming.

The state BJP is not impressed by speculation in this regard. Rather, it feels enraged by the very idea of it, and sees in it a "motive to insult our leader". "The PM can participate in the swearing-in function only after he gets a proper invite from the state government," said a senior state BJP leader, adding: "We don't see any meaning in the very idea of the likely participation of the PM in the swearing-in ceremony."

On Saturday, in reply to a question if PM Modi would be sent the invite to participate in his swearing-in ceremony, CM Nitish said, "Such matters are not discussed at a press conference. You will come to know about the invites at a proper time." Incidentally, the recent election had been willy-nilly converted into a "war" between PM Modi and CM Nitish.

A section of media reported on Sunday that there was a possibility of PM Modi and BJP stalwart L K Advani attending Nitish's swearing-in ceremony. The report said PM Modi would use the opportunity to reiterate his "commitment" to the Rs 1.25 lakh crore special package for Bihar that he had announced. It added West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee would not participate in the function. Instead, she would send her representative.

Sources, however, said Advani and BJP's Patna Saheb MP Shatrughan Sinha could be invited to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Nitish due to his old cordial relationship with them. But a JD(U) source said non-NDA leaders would be annoyed if Modi and Advani are invited to Nitish's oath-taking function.