RSS chief says Nitish govt far ahead of Modi’s

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s reported remark that Nitish Kumar-ruled Bihar is far ahead of Gujarat in matters relating to good governance and development cast shadow on the parent body’s uneasy relationship with Narendra Modi.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s reported remark that Nitish Kumar-ruled Bihar is far ahead of Gujarat in matters relating to good governance and development cast shadow on the parent body’s uneasy relationship with Narendra Modi.

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The RSS chief is stated to have made the comments while addressing a press conference attended by foreign journalists in Delhi on Thursday.

As Bhagwat’s remarks were on Twitter, the RSS denied them as they were seen by fans of Modi as creating fresh hurdle for him —by praising Nitish Kumar’s government. RSS leaders clarified Bhagwat had, in fact, said the people of each state feel that the model followed by their government is superior. He expressed satisfaction with the performance of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh governments.

Bhagwat’s comments were seen by some BJP leaders as trying to help their party normalise strained relationship with its oldest ally, the Janata Dal-U. On Friday, Bhagwat met another group of journalists and denied that he had placed Bihar ahead of Gujarat.

Nitish had recently said he may opt out of NDA if Narendra Modi is projected as the PM candidate for 2014 polls. In response, Nitin Gadkari said BJP had not decided on Modi as PM candidate.