Nitish Says It바카라�s Immaterial, But His Party Says He바카라�s PM Material

The JD(U) is at it again. Eight years after Nitish Kumar walked out on the NDA in protest against the BJP바카라�s move to project Narendra Modi as its PM candidate, Bihar바카라�s ruling party has again hailed the chief minister as 바카라�PM material바카라�, reigniting a political debate. At its national council meeting in Patna on August 29, the JD(U) passed a unanimous resolution in this regard on a proposal moved by party president Lalan Singh. The party, however, insists Nitish is not at all a claimant to the PM바카라�s post 바카라�despite having the capability바카라�. 바카라�Our purpose is to dispel confusion on the issue as news reports often claim he is a PM candidate,바카라� JD(U)바카라�s national general secretary K.C. Tyagi sought to clarify after the meeting. 바카라�That바카라�s why it has been made clear through the resolution that Nitish is not a claimant to the PM바카라�s post, though he has all the qualities.바카라�

Nitish, for his part, made light of the speculation. 바카라�These are useless talks,바카라� the CM says. 바카라�I don바카라�t have the desire, or expectation, for such things.바카라� But his party leaders were drumbeating that Nitish is more than capable of leading the country. 바카라�How can we stake claim to the prime minister바카라�s post? Ours is a small party, but, yes, as far as the qualities are concerned, Nitish is fit enough to hold the post,바카라� Lalan said after the meeting. 바카라�He has a vision. Many schemes such as bicycles for girls, electricity and potable water to each household implemented by him in the past 15 years in Bihar were later introduced by the ­Centre and other states.바카라�

Vocal senior leaders such as Upendra Kushwaha went a step ahead. 바카라�The ­numbers would not be a problem if such a situation arises (in the future),바카라� he says. In fact, it was Kushwaha who had recently called the Bihar CM 바카라�PM ­material바카라� to revive an old issue, which was believed to have become irrelevant after Nitish chose to quit the Mahagathbandhan and return to the NDA in 2017, accepting Modi바카라�s leadership, which he had once questioned.

Political observers believe that it is a well-calculated, two-pronged strategy by the JD(U). 바카라�The JD(U) leaders cannot take the risk of saying it openly because their party is part of the NDA. But it has an indirect message that Nitish can jump the ship if the situation comes to that,바카라� says political commentator and economist Nawal Kishore Choudhary.

Choudhary says JD(U) leaders have been making such statements almost every day and that cannot happen without the CM바카라�s support. 바카라�I think Nitish is trying to send a message to the BJP that it should not think he has spent all his options. At the same time, it is also a message to the Opposition that he can leave the NDA if he is given a respectable position. And what can be more respectable than the PM바카라�s post to a leader who has been a Union minister several times apart from being Bihar CM for 15 years?바카라�

The BJP has reacted cautiously. Party spokesman for the state, Nikhil Anand, says: 바카라�Every party gives voice to its political ambitions and aspirations about its leader. There is nothing new in it. Our alliance under Nitish Kumar바카라�s leadership is moving towards making Bihar a frontline state. Unlike the RJD, we do not interfere in the other party바카라�s affairs.바카라�

Nonetheless, Nitish바카라�s recent demands for a caste census, probe into the Pegasus episode, and opposition to Uttar Pradesh바카라�s draft population policy have been interpreted as tell-tale signs of ­friction between the ruling partners.