Patna: Even as the BJP remains uncertain on who will lead the party in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, party leader and Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi has opened a new front by naming JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as PM material.

Speaking to a leading English newspaper, Modi said, “Nitish Kumar is surely PM material. As CM of an important state and valued ally of the BJP, he will definitely play a very important role in 2014 elections.”

However, Modi was quick to point out that Kumar has already said that the larger party (BJP) in an alliance alone can have PM nominee to ensure stable government.

Rumours of Nitish joining the UPA government were also put to rest by Modi, he said that Nitish is a valued ally of BJP and is anti-Congress.

On the issue of recent Naroda Patya verdict and whether it will taint the image of BJP in the upcoming elections, Modi told The Indian Express, “The verdict will not harm us as Congress is loaded with corruption.”