But the deputy chief minister, Sushil Modi, denied that there is any such proposal. Not only that he took entirely different stand on all the issues on which Dr Thakur spoke recently.

In an interview to the Telegraph (Oct 10) he said “more than Nitish Kumar, the BJP central leadership had decided not to engage Narendra Modi” in Bihar.

Interestingly, Sushil Modi not only spoke against inviting Narendra Modi he also discounted the possibility of the BJP contesting all the 40 seats in the coming Lok Sabha election. Dr Thakur had last week said that the possibility of BJP putting up candidates in all the 40 seats can not be ruled out.

The state BJP chief not only said this much. He went on to say that Bihar did not need special status category. This stand is in total contrast to the one taken by the chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is undertaking Adhikar Yatra to press for it.

The state deputy chief minister, however, said that the BJP-Janata Dal (United) alliance is as strong as ever and that the Centre had always been meting out step motherly treatment towards Bihar. Thus he spoke on the line of Nitish Kumar rather than on his own state party chief.

Sushil Modi said as regards the party’s prime ministerial candidate, the BJP high command has convincingly communicated to Nitish that he would be consulted with regard to it and his views will be taken care of. Nitish is the strongest NDA ally and the BJP respects that.

On the direct question “You are ruling out Narendra Modi from the prime ministerial race?”Sushil Modi made no comment. He then added “I have stated what I have to state. And I believe that I have stated what the BJP stands for...”

On the question “What do you think of Nitish Kumar? Does he deserve to be PM?” he replied “Yes, he is a popular and performing chief minister and deserves to be PM. But he has himself made it clear time and again that he is not in the race and he wants the BJP––the biggest alliance partner––to have its prime ministerial candidate.”

On Animal Husbandry and Fish Resources Minister Giriraj Singh’s open support to Narendra Modi he said “I won’t take names. But no leader has the sanction from the party high command to speak or work against the alliance. Someone might be airing his personal views. Such leaders are under the party’s scanner.”

On party MP Uday Singh’s “Vedna Rally” in Purnea he said “I told you that such leaders were under the scanner of the party. The BJP will act tough against the leaders doing damage to the alliance through their words or actions.”