Shatrughan slip puts Nitish in PM race

PATNA: In what appeared to be a slip of tongue, BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha, of all people, on Friday addressed Bihar chief minister and JD-U

leader Nitish Kumar as Prime Minister at an NDA rally at Daniyawan in the Patna Sahib constituency from where Sinha is contesting election as an NDA nominee.

Though the actor-turned-politician immediately corrected his faux pas by clarifying that he wished Nitish became PM in future, the inclusion of Nitish's name in the list of PM probables was hotly debated in the state where the last phase of polling is slated for May 7 in three constituencies. For, Nitish had by then been projected as a PM probable also by a section of his party leaders who were apparently prompted by the fact that some BJP leaders had suggested the name of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi as PM probable.

Nitish's name was first floated by JD(U) national spokesman Shivanand Tiwary in the presence of Nitish at an election meeting a few days ago. On Saturday, Tiwary clarified, "It's not me. The media and intelligentsia across the country are discussing Nitish's name. I am confident Nitish will be acceptable to both NDA and UPA if a situation arises where there is no agreement on any other name in the two camps."

Tiwary told TOI Nitish has endeared himself to crores of people through his relentless efforts for development in Bihar and can, therefore, prove a better PM. "Even media praised and projected him as a better choice than Modi," he said.

Mohammad Nematullah, a former MLA who quit the state RJD minority cell chief's post and joined JD(U) recently, said JD(U) leaders are aghast at the projection of Modi as PM. "If there is disagreement in the BJP over the issue of leadership, Nitish would be a wise choice for the post of PM," Nematullah said, adding even the Left parties will accept him.

State BJP appeared shocked over this development. State BJP president Radha Mohan Singh said there are no differences whatsoever over the name of LK Advani as BJP's prime ministerial candidate. Without naming either Modi or Nitish, he said all the leaders whose names are floating were present at the meeting where Advani's name was finalised unanimously.

The man at the centre of the fresh debate appeared shy. "I am not in the race. I have not even thought about it __ not even in my dreams. I know I am not a suitable person for this post," he said. link...