Tuesday, February 1 2005 20:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Sasaram (Bihar): Though BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) president L K Advani had said that it would be against the spirit of the alliance to announce its Chief Ministerial candidate, party leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy today (Feb 1, 2005) said senior JDU (Janata Dal-United) leader Nitish Kumar would be the "most suitable choice" for Chief Ministership in the event of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) coming to power in Bihar.

"Nitish Kumar is the most suitable candidate for the top post if NDA is voted to power and I think he will be the next CM," Rudy, Former Union Minister, told reporters in Bihar.

Rubbishing RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) president Laloo Prasad's charge that NDA did not announce the name of its Chief Ministerial candidate in Bihar due to bickering in the alliance, Advani had yesterday said it was not done as it was against "the spirit of alliance".

Laloo, while taking a dig at the NDA for not announcing its candidate for the top post during a TV programme, had asked, "Who is their nominee for the CM?" and said, "There is no vacancy for CM's post in Bihar. Rabri Devi is our lone candidate."

Film star-turned-politician and senior BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha had also questioned the wisdom of not projecting anybody as NDA's Chief Ministerial nominee.

While the JDU is contesting 138 of the 243 Assembly seats, the BJP is fighting only in 105.