The Janata Dal (United)’s ‘no’ to the possible nomination of Narendra Modi as the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate — as a condition for forging an alliance with the BJP in the general election — is ridiculous. When the parent body is acceptable, why is a particular leader unacceptable? The unseemly tussle over a prospective Prime Minister is akin to breaking one’s head over naming a child even before it is conceived.
B. Gurumurthy,
Madurai
If the JD (U) believes that the NDA will come to power in 2014, it should also understand that it will be because of the BJP, its largest constituent, not just due to Mr. Modi. And it is the BJP’s prerogative to name its prime ministerial candidate on the basis of his or her winnability across the country.
Even if the JD (U) feels it can influence the BJP, let it not do so when the NDA itself is out of power. Let Nitish Kumar suggest his preferred name from among the NDA partners at the appropriate time instead of rattling the cart before it is even on the road. That said, all talk of Mr. Modi’s secular credentials is only eyewash. Mr. Kumar has been in the company of Mr. Modi all these years. Also, the BJP cares more about Mr. Modi today.
G. Tirumala Rao ,
Visakhapatnam
