He said he had campaigned for Janata Dal (United) in Gujarat in 2007, but would not be able to do so this time. Nitish’s refusal came notwithstanding the fact that last month the central leadership of the Janata Dal (United) hinted that the Bihar chief minister would be campaigning in Gujarat. Janata Dal (United) national president Sharad Yadav and other party leaders would campaign for the party in the elections.

The party plans to field candidates on 75 seats in the upcoming polls. The party had won one seat in 2007.

He cited his preoccupation with Adhikar Rally in Patna on November 4 and the visit to Pakistan in the second week of the same month as the reason for not goint to Gujarat. Besides, the Winter Session of the Bihar Assembly is scheduled from November 29.

Nitish had a very good relationship with Narendra Modi till June 12-13, 2010 National Executive of the BJP in Patna. However, on the eve of the 2010 Assembly election he suddenly hardened his stand against his Gujarat counterpart.

Political observers are of the view that Nitish started targeting Narendra Modi ever since the latter had started emerging as a potential prime ministerial candidate of the BJP.