Amid speculations by a section of media about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) returning to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, with which it snapped its ties a year ago, the saffron party said that the doors have been closed for him. "Not once but twice Amit Shah made it clear that even if he (Nitish Kumar) begs, the doors of BJP are closed for him. Why should we back him, what is left in him,” said BJP MP Sushil Modi.
“JD(U) has now become a burden,” he added.
"Who is taking him (Nitish Kumar) back? The people of Bihar are not ready to accept him and those with him are certain to drown," said Bihar Assembly Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha.
Nitish Kumar Refutes Speculations
Later in the day, Nitish Kumar refuted the speculations saying his prime concern was to strengthen the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc. Responding to queries by mediapersons over the speculation in Patna, Kumar said, "Kya faltu baat hai" (what rubbish!).
A key figure in the anti-BJP I.N.D.I.A. coalition, the JD(U) leader disapproved statements by his party colleagues talking about him having "all qualities for making a good PM".
"I have already told my party colleagues not to make such statements. My only wish is to strengthen the unity of the INDIA alliance. I am working only in this direction," he said.
Bihar Assembly Deputy Speaker and senior JD(U) leader Maheshwar Hazari had said that no one is more capable of becoming the PM candidate of the INDIA alliance than Nitish Kumar.