Kushwaha backs Narendra Modi's prime ministerial candidature

Jehanabad (Bihar), Aug 19: Upendra Kushwaha, who quit the JD(U) to launch his own political party in March, on Sunday praised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi saying his party would support BJP to ensure defeat of the UPA in the next general elections.

"We will work together with the BJP if it decides to contest the next general elections under the Gujarat Chief Minister's leadership and wrest power from the UPA," he said. "Coming from the Extremely Backward Caste background that he does, Modi is the right choice for the prime minister's post given his credentials as an administrator," Kushwaha told reporters here during his party's conclave.

Asked whether his Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RSLP) would merge with the BJP or enter into pre-poll alliance in Bihar, Kushwaha refused to divulge his cards saying he would decide after consulting party colleagues and BJP leadership.

On Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's antipathy towards Modi, the RSLP president said he "harbours ill will towards any EBC leader who dreams big".

This is the first time that Kushwaha, an ex-Rajya Sabha MP and known Nitish-baiter, announced that he would back Modi's prime ministerial candidature.

The RLSP's support to Modi came a day after Bihar BJP adopted a resolution urging the party's central leadership to declare Modi as its prime ministerial candidate without delay.

Nitish Kumar severed ties with the BJP-led NDA after Modi's elevation as the poll panel chief two months ago.

PTI