New Delhi:
BJP leaders Narendra Modi and Varun Gandhi are not needed for campaigning for the coming assembly elections in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar suggested on Saturday.
"Elections in Bihar will be held on the basis of the performance of our government. This is not national elections but state assembly elections. Workers of (state unit of) BJP are capable of putting forth their views before the people," the leader of BJP ally JD (U) told reporters here.
He was replying to a question whether he would stick to the stand he had taken during 2009 Lok Sabha elections that Modi and Varun would not come for campaigning in the state.
Kumar said that campaigning was "done well" during 2005 assembly elections in Bihar and the Lok Sabha polls. "And, this (campaigning) will be done well in the forthcoming assembly elections too," he maintained.
Although Kumar had said that he would not invite Modi for campaigning in Bihar during last Lok Sabha elections but he had shared stage with him in an NDA rally in Haryana.
To a question on how is he surviving with his secular "image" while being with BJP when even superstar Amitabh Bachchan is facing problem due to Modi's image, Kumar said, "We are working in Bihar for all sections including minorities and people ultimately judge on the basis of the work... We have not faced any problem till date."
He said that his alliance government in Bihar has been carrying out development works for the benefit of all sections of society, including minorities.
When asked whether JD (U) and BJP will have a joint manifesto in the elections slated to be held later this year, Kumar said, "So far as the joint manifesto is concerned, we have not felt any necessity of it till now.
"We had prepared an agenda of governance and we have been working on its line," Kumar said.
To a question whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's image has the potential to affect his party's performance in the elections, Kumar said, "The condition of Congress party in Bihar is not such that it can pose a challenge (to his party)."