Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s assertion of the primacy of his state’s model of development and his suggestion that it could be gainfully transplanted in Bihar with some modifications on Tuesday brought out a predictable and loud snub from the JD(U), which asserted the pan-Indian suitability of the “Nitish model of governance”.
The JD(U), squirming from comparisons between the governance acumen of Gujarat’s high-profile BJP chief minister and his Bihar counterpart, Mr Nitish Kumar of the JD(U), lost no time rebutting Mr Modi’s suggestion and sang praises of the “inclusive development model” adopted in Bihar by the JD(U) stalwart. The JD(U) thus indicated again its unwillingness to accept Mr Modi as the NDA’s PM candidate if he is so chosen.
“There is only one working and workable model of development in the country, and it is the Nitish model of development. It is already tried and tested, with great results and national and international accolades. The JD(U) needs no advice from anybody,” said JD(U) Bihar spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar. “Only an inclusive development model such as the one adopted by Nitish Kumar in Bihar is suitable for the whole country,” he added.
“The governance model we use in Bihar is the ideal model because it is inclusive,” JD(U) national spokesman Shivanand Tiwari said in an apparent setting of tone for the JD(U)’s upcoming national executive meeting in Delhi.
Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi of the BJP, however, explained away Mr Modi’s suggestion by saying: “What he meant was that no single model can be replicated across the country. Several features of Bihar’s development model have been adapted by other states.”
The JD(U) also faced renewed attacks from Bihar’s main Opposition party RJD for Mr Nitish Kumar’s description of BJP patriarch L.K. Advani as a “respectable leader”.
RJD leader Ram Kripal Yadav asked: “What happened to Kumar’s demand for a secular PM candidate? He must clarify who between Advani and Modi he considers secular.”