AMN
PATNA: Lalu Prasad;s RJD seems to be adamant on not declaring Nitish Kumar as Chief Ministerial candidate in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. The party maintains that the name for top post will be decided by the all alliance partners. Former Union Minister and senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said that contesting poll under Mr. Kumar’s leadership is JD(U)’s view but final call about who will lead the group will be taken only after forging an alliance. He said Nitish Kumar is Chief Minister right now and there is no need to say anything about the future.
He even goes on saying that RJD will go to poll alone if tie up does not materialize, Mr. Singh said back-tracking from alliance will not be appropriate as unity against BJP is people’s demand. He said talks are still on between RJD and JD(U) over the alliance issue. Replying to a question about the reports that Congress may prefer to go with JD(U) in the election, the former Minster said it will not affect the RJD’s prospects as mass support is with his party.
Meanwhile, JD(U) has said Raghuvansh Prasad Singh’s remarks on Chief Ministerial candidate are not acceptable. Party State Chief Vashishtha Narayan Singh said that such statements create hurdles at a time when top leadership of the two parties is in talks. Replying to a question, he dismissed the possibility of JD(U) going alone in the elections saying the merger of Janata Parivar Parties might have been delayed but there is hope for a tie up. JD(U) chief also pitched for inclusion of Congress, Left Parties and NCP in the alliance to counter the BJP.
Earlier, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad’s efforts to join hands with former Bihar Chief Minister and expelled JD(U) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi has also created uneasiness for Nitish Kumar. Few days back, Mr. Kumar also skipped a rally in Bihar addressed by his party Chief Sharad Yadav and RJD Chief.