The Narendra Modi-Nitish Kumar tiff is set to enter the electoral arena with the Bharatiya Janata Party finding itself in competition in 100 seats against its own ally -- the Janata Dal United.
Amid this battle, in a move that has left Nitish Kumar red-faced, a BJP minister in Bihar cut a cake to celebrate the 62nd birthday of the Gujarat CM.
Projecting Modi as the next PM, BJP leader and Bihar Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh said that he (Modi) had emerged as the only hope to save the country and develop it like Gujarat.
Nitish Kumar said the ceremony for the BJP leader's 62nd birthday did not perturb him. "What is there to object about? ...I too take this opportunity to wish Modi a happy birthday and a long life. But my only regret is that Giriraj-ji did not offer me a piece of cake," the Chief Minister said.
The function to mark Modi's birthday celebration was held at the BJP office in Patna, which was attended by several party MLAs and MPs, along with hundreds of party workers.
"Modi is a
bharat nirmata and people of the country want him to become the PM," Singh told newspersons after he cut a cake.
Singh refused to comment when asked if the celebration was an act to show Nitish Kumar that the BJP in Bihar is backing Modi.
Nitish Kumar had repeatedly expressed his strong reservation against Modi being projected as the NDA's prime ministerial candidate and said that the PM candidate should be of a secular credential.