Apparently upset with the Congress party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for making a oblique statement on him, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said a “reactive narrative” would not work for the Opposition’s unity.
Refuting speculation that there was a crack in the grand alliance, Mr. Kumar reiterated that he was not in the race for Prime Minister in the 2019 general election.
‘No mere talk’
“Only talking of unity among the Opposition parties is not enough… The Opposition parties have to decide their role and they should start preparation for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls…and the Congress is a big party…the Opposition needs an alternative narrative, just a reactive narrative won’t work,” Mr. Kumar told journalists on the sidelines of his weekly Lok Samvad programme.
The CM also said the Congress, through lethargy and inaction, had heavily dented the impact of a large league of the Opposition parties, which he had earlier pushed hard to bring together.
He also referred to the Congress’s mishandling of alliances ahead of the Assembly elections in Assam and Uttar Pradesh, and its prolonged indecisiveness over the Opposition’s presidential nominee.
“I have said earlier too that I am not the ‘PM face’ of the Opposition for 2019, neither I am eligible,” Mr. Kumar said, adding that the Janata Dal (United) is a regional party.
Asked why he did not attend the GST unveiling programme in Parliament, he said he would have attended it, had he received an invitation from the Central government. He further said the GST is a good system and he had “supported it since the beginning.” “Whatever issue is in the interest of the people and the country, I always support and stand for it,” Mr. Kumar said.
Refuting any crack in the ruling grand alliance in Bihar, Mr. Kumar said: “The mahagathbandhan is intact and it is our priority to fulfil its programmes.”
