Patna, Aug. 4: Even a birthday is a show of strength in the BJP here as there suddenly seem to be many claimants for the post of chief minister.

Supporters of Gaya’s BJP MLA Prem Kumar, who is celebrating his birthday tomorrow, are projecting him as a mass leader. Various caste organisations — Bind (boatmen), Tanti Bunkar (Hindu weavers), Pal Gadaria (shepherds), Nai (Barber) and Chandravanshi — have put up banners and posters in various parts of the city, wishing him on his birthday.

State BJP president Mangal Pandey said: “My congratulations to Prem on his birthday.”

But, he added, one cannot become chief ministerial candidate just by putting up banners. The party has to choose the candidate in consultation with central leadership.