Speculations rife over CM candidate in Bihar

Shouting slogans “Kendra mein Namo, Bihar mein Sumo”, BJP workers and supporters performed pujas and havans in Patna on Friday, seeking divine blessings for the NDA’s success in the elections.

Dismissing the exit poll results, several BJP leaders exuded confidence that the NDA will sweep Bihar with a two-thirds majority.

Besides Mr Sushil Modi, the names of senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav and Union minister Radha Mohan Singh are being mentioned.

Former deputy CM Sushil Modi took a jibe at Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav for claiming that they would win 190 out of 243 seats, and said: “Now they are claiming that they will win 190 seats... They had made similar claims during the Lok Sabha elections, but they got reduced to a mere four seats. In this election too, the BJP will blow the winning bugle and the validity of such leaders will expire on November 8.”

Sources said that besides Sushil Kumar Modi, the party may also consider several other names. They said it has already prepared a list of some prominent state leaders, including senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav and Union minister Radha Mohan Singh.

A state party leader said, “The people voted for a change and the Prime Minister’s popularity worked wonders for the party.”

Another senior BJP leader said, “Sushil Kumar Modi is no doubt a senior and experienced leader, and has the quality to lead the party but in the BJP everything is done democratically, and the parliamentary board will decide.”

On who the central leaders would prefer as CM, a source said, “Sushil Modi is the most popular, but when the parliamentary board meets, they consider all aspects.”