Reacting to the announcement of Narendra Modi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said wisdom had deserted the BJP and it was heading for a fall.
“One can only say this about them [BJP]: Vinaash kale viprit buddhi [When you are moving towards self-destruction, even your intellect deserts you],” Mr. Kumar said on the sidelines of a function on Saturday.
He said the decision of his party, Janata Dal (United), to pull out of the NDA in June stood vindicated. “What we anticipated three months ago is happening now. We took our decision at the right time,” he said.
The BJP hit back at Mr. Kumar for 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) walked out of the alliance 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.
