Reacting for the first time on the appointment of Mr Narendra Modi as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said wisdom had deserted the BJP as it was heading for a fall.
Using an idiomatic expression, Mr. Kumar remarked, “One can only say this about them [BJP]: Vinaash kale viprit buddhi [When you are moving towards self-destruction, even you intellect deserts you].”
Mr. Kumar said his party Janata Dal (United)’s decision to pull out of the National Democratic Alliance in June stood vindicated by the announcement.
“What we had anticipated three months ago is happening now. We took our decision at the right time. They (BJP) are not going to benefit from it in any way,” Mr. Kumar said on the sidelines of a function in Patna.
Reacting to his comments, BJP leader and former state minister Giriraj Singh said, “Time will tell, whose wisdom has failed.”
In June, the ruling NDA split in Bihar after the JD (U) pulled the plug on the BJP on the issue of Mr. Modi’s candidature. While in the NDA, Mr. Kumar had consistently opposed the move. Terming Mr. Modi a “divisive figure,” he had called for a “secular” candidate for the post of Prime Minister.
