BJP rally may get Narendra Modi on Bihar political turf

PATNA: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had resisted his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi from hitting Bihar’s political turf, may now have to brace for the inevitable. Modi, according to BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy, is likely to attend the party’s Hunkar rally in Patna, which is certain to strain the frayed ties between the JD(U) and the BJP.

Though the rally, slotted for October 27, is still a long way off, leaving enough time for the BJP to decide whether Modi should be invited or not, it will all depend on how the political scenario unfolds in the intervening period. If the saffron squad makes up its mind for a life without Nitish Kumar in Bihar, it will surely rope in Modi for the political extravaganza at the Gandhi Maidan.

“It seems for sure that Modi ji will come for the Hunkar rally. There is a proposal to invite him. But we will let you know when the final decision is taken,” Rudy told reporters on Friday. Asked about the ban on Modi’s entry into Bihar, Rudy said it was very untrue and that in a democratic set-up, anyone from any party was free to go anywhere in the country.

“Narendra Modi is the chief minister of Gujarat and he can visit Bihar, or for that matter, any other state. Anyway, Bihar has the tradition of welcoming visitors,” he added .