'BJP Has Shut All Its Doors For Nitish Kumar': Sushil Modi Counters Union Minister's Claim On Bihar CM's Return To NDA

Asserting that BJP has closed all its doors to Nitish Kumar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sushil Modi stated that the claim made by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale regarding the Bihar Chief Minister's return to the NDA is his personal opinion.

He emphasised that the BJP has closed all its doors for the Bihar CM.

Sushil Modi said that even if Nitish Kumar expresses a desire to join, the BJP is not willing to accept him.

He pointed out that Ramdas Athawale, being neither a BJP spokesperson nor an NDA spokesperson but rather the leader of a party and a Union Minister, must be expressing his personal opinion.

"Even if he wants to come, BJP is not ready. Ramdas Athawale is neither a BJP spokesperson nor an NDA spokespeson. He is the leader of a party and a Union Minister so this must be his personal opinion but BJP has shut all its doors," Sushil Modi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

During an interview with ANI, Sushil Modi went on to describe Nitish Kumar as a "burden" and claimed that his ability to transfer votes has come to an end.

"He has become a burden; I doubt RJD will be able to bear it for long. His capability to transfer votes has ended," the BJP leader said.

"In the last Vidhan Sabha election it was seen that had Narendra Modi not come, he (Nitish Kumar) would not have won 44 seats. In politics, you are important if you have the power of votes. Otherwise, you hold no importance," he added. Earlier on Saturday (29 July), Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale claimed that Nitish Kumar can return to the BJP-led NDA anytime.

Ramdas Athawale commended Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his "good" work in the state.

He also criticised the next Opposition meeting in Mumbai, labelling it a failure, and advised Kumar against attending it.

"Nitishji is with us and he can return to the NDA anytime. Earlier, he was with RJD and he returned to NDA and again he has gone to RJD. I am not happy that Nitishji has left us again," the Union Minister said while talking to the reporters in Patna.

With the backing of the 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance), Kumar resigned from the BJP in August 2022, resulting in the party losing power.