From the India Today archives (2011) | When Nitish Kumar, like Modi, was seen as PM material
India TodayWhen Narendra Modi threw his hat into the ring to become India's next prime minister, he never bargained for the fact that he would stumble on a skull cap. In opinion polls conducted by INDIA TODAY and even other publications, Modi consistently maintains his lead as India's best chief minister and the best possible prime minister in a non-UPA government, but he still cannot take a break from the project of makeover: he is always a work in progress. Modi has hardly been on talking terms with Gadkari ever since rss pracharak Sanjay Joshi was reinducted into the party to strengthen BJP in Uttar Pradesh against the Gujarat strongman's wishes. Senior JD-U leaders seeking anonymity maintain that Nitish is mentally prepared to pull the plug on the alliance if Modi is named the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. Nitish does not even mention Modi's name on public platforms, and considers the Gujarat chief minister as a communal leader unacceptable to his inclusive brand of politics.