Now, it's Nalanda calling for Modi

The BJP's Bihar unit wants party campaign committee chief Narendra Modi to contest next year's Lok Sabha election from Nalanda — the native place of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar — who is opposed to Modi becoming prime minister.

The BJP's Bihar unit wants party campaign committee chief Narendra Modi to contest next year's Lok Sabha election from Nalanda — the native place of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar — who is opposed to Modi becoming prime minister.

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"I have made this suggestion to Narendrabhai and argued that this will send a positive message to party workers. But the matter is still in a nascent stage," BJP national vice-president CP Thakur, who had been Union health minister, told HT on Sunday.

With this, Nalanda became the third constituency to be mentioned as one from where Modi may contest if he were to do so outside his state. Lucknow and Varanasi are the other two.

Thakur, a former BJP state president, said many BJP workers felt the Gujarat chief minister was "more popular" in Bihar "than even in his native state".

His remarks drew a sharp response from JD(U) MP Shivanand Tiwari. "Earlier also, we heard Modi would contest from Lucknow and Varanasi. I don't understand why," he said.

Tiwari said if Modi were to 'quit' Gujarat to contest a Lok Sabha seat from some other place, it would be seen as a sign he was "losing his grip".