On the insistence of Kumar, BJP kept Modi away from On the insistence of Kumar, BJP kept Modi away from campaign in Bihar both in the last general elections in 2009 and state Assembly polls in 2010. During BJP's national executive meeting at Patna in 2010, angry over publication of advertisement in newspapers about donation provided by Modi for Kosi flood victims, Kumar had cancelled a dinner he had to host for BJP leaders then. While Nitish Kumar ducked question on Modi, state Minority Welfare Minister Shahid Ali Khan, who was with him at the programme on popularising e-governance, told the reporters, "it's the prerogative of the chief minister either to offer reaction to something or not...so far the matter concerning victory of BJP in Gujarat, I congratulate all who defeated Congress." Another Modi's strong supporter and state Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh said "it is a routine practice that even a defeated candidate congratulates the winner in an election." PTI SNS KDK PR DBR
