Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday disapproved Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's anointment as the Bharatiya Janata Party's Prime Ministerial candidate, saying the nation will never accept such divisive elements.
"Whatever we said earlier has now come as the truth. We knew this will happen. And since it was not acceptable to us, we pulled out of the NDA alliance," Nitish Kumar told media here.
"Let them rejoice, but the people of the country will never accept such divisive elements. Their view is not to unite and strengthen the country, but to weaken the country," he added.
Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav yesterday lashed out at the BJP after it selected Modi as its prime ministerial candidate, and said the latest political development is a clear indication that the saffron outfit is run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
"Although it's the BJP's internal matter, I feel it has been proven now that the BJP is being run by RSS," he said.
Sharad Yadav also categorically said that there is no question of aligning with the BJP again.
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"We knew this was going to happen. So, we had quit NDA," he said.
The Janata Dal (United) ended its 17-year-long association with the BJP earlier in June this year citing differences over Modi's elevation as the poll panel chief for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
The selection of Narendra Modi at this juncture was not endorsed by L. K. Advani, who also wrote a letter to BJP President Rajnath Singh in this regard.
Several senior BJP leaders, including Sushma Swaraj and Ananth Kumar, met Advani at his residence here this morning apparently in a bid to pacify the veteran leader, who was opposed to Modi's elevation as the prime ministerial candidate.
Swaraj after the meeting said no one is upset with announcement of Modi for the top post.
Modi, who was yesterday named the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, met Advani soon after his elevation.
There was, however, no official word from him after the meeting.
The Modi-for-PM announcement came after a meeting of the BJP's parliamentary board here last evening.
The announcement was made by the BJP President after a meeting of the parliamentary board, which was skipped by Advani.
Soon after the announcement, Modi thanked his party's central leadership for giving him such an important responsibility, and expressed confidence that the BJP would emerge victorious in the next general elections.
"The BJP has always given me the opportunity to work for progress and development of the party and the nation in various capacities. Today, the BJP's central leadership has given me a very big responsibility," said Modi.
"With the blessings of the national leadership and love of the party workers, I am sure we will win. I whole-heartedly thank the party workers and national leadership," he added.
Modi assured his party workers and supporters that he would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the BJP emerges victorious in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Several attempts had earlier been made by senior leaders to convince Advani, who had resigned from all party posts when Modi was appointed the election campaign committee chief in Goa earlier this year.
