Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday reacted with distaste to the contention of his party JD(U) that he is “Prime Minister material”, which has caused consternation in the BJP, an alliance partner, and fuelled speculations about his future moves across the political spectrum. The septuagenarian expressed his aversion to the hubbub when journalists drew his attention to Sushil Kumar Modi, his former deputy, maintaining an eloquent silence when asked about the JD(U) de facto leader fitting the bill for the top job.
“Don’t talk to me about such drivel. It was a party meeting, with a lot on the agenda. The cadre choose to speak as they please on such occasions,” Kumar said, referring to the JD(U) national council meeting of Sunday where the party had sought to make a cult figure out of the leader who has now become the longest serving chief minister of the state.
Sushil Modi, one of the tallest BJP leaders in the state, had on earlier occasions been effusive in his praise of…