Nitish favours Pragya’s ouster

Patna, May 19

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday strongly condemned BJP’s Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur’s controversial remark describing the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, Nathuram Godse, as a “patriot” and said the BJP should consider expelling her from the party.

Kumar, president of BJP’s strong ally JD(U), made it clear that his party would not tolerate such things.

In reply to a query whether the BJP should expel her from the party, Kumar said that “it must be considered”. He, however, was quick to add that “it is an internal matter of the BJP”.

Nitish also repudiated arch rival Lalu Prasad’s claim that he had sent poll-strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor for rapprochement owing to unease with the BJP.

Kumar also said he was looking forward to the formation of a new government by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and his JD(U) joining it.

Asked whether the JD(U), which did not get a ministerial berth at the Centre despite having returned to the NDA about a couple of years ago, will join the new government, he replied, “Why not?”

The CM, however, made it clear that his party will stick to its stand on issues like Article 370, Uniform Civil Code and the Ayodhya dispute, which was at variance with that of the BJP.

He dismissed the recent statement by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who had hinted at the possibility of a post-poll tie-up with the JD(U). — TNS/Agencies

Long poll schedule

Elections must not be spread over seven phases. The number of phases need not have been more than two or three. Moreover, these should be held either in February-March or October-November so people are not inconvenienced— Nitish Kumar, Bihar CM