New Delhi:
Amid a public debate about BJP leader Narendra Modi's secular credentials, the man often described as his rival within the party tweeted today, "My heart glows with affection for my daughters while participating in their Nikah ceremony today at Nasrullaganj in my own constituency."
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, was referring to the mass weddings of poor Muslim girls his government organises.
His comments come a day after the BJP's ally, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, ruled out supporting Mr Modi for Prime Minister.
Mr Modi is the leading candidate for the BJP's nomination, and party cadres have made it clear they want him to run for the country's top job, but he is tainted, in the eyes of many, by the communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which nearly 1000 Muslims were killed.
Mr Chouhan has won his state twice for the BJP.
He is also responsible for accelerating Madhya Pradesh's growth rate. The state was among the best performers for the period 2007-2011.
But in an interview to NDTV recently, he said speculation over who would be his party's presumptive Prime Minister had "become a joke" and said, "I don't have that good personality. I keep a low profile, I enjoy delivering my duties."