Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Monday said he was not upset during the recent Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc meeting in New Delhi. Mr. Kumar reiterated that he had no personal ambition and was only interested in uniting the Opposition parties ahead of Lok Sabha polls. He also rubbished the claims of the BJP that there is a possible split in the JD(U).
ADVERTISEMENT
Ever since the fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc was held in New Delhi, there was a talk in the political circles that Mr. Kumar was upset after not being made anything — neither convener nor co-coordinator — and that was the possible reason for he not being present in the joint press conference after the meeting.
However, Mr. Kumar on Monday clarified that he was not upset or angry with the INDIA bloc.
ADVERTISEMENT
“News of being upset is absolutely wrong. Why would I be upset or angry? It was my effort to bring all the opposition parties together so that we can fight against BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls in 2024. I have always been saying that I don’t have any personal ambition,” Mr. Kumar said after attending a State event organised to pay floral tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 99th birth anniversary in Patna.
He said he never had any desire for any post, stressing that he had already said everyone should contest elections together and the work on seat sharing should be done as soon as possible.
This is not the first time such rumours were spread after Mr. Kumar attended the meeting.
ADVERTISEMENT
When media personnel asked about the possible split in the JD(U), Mr. Kumar said, “It is all useless. My party is united and we are working for the upcoming elections. Who can break my party? We are totally united.”
After the INDIA bloc meeting, senior BJP leader from Bihar and Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi had predicted that the incumbent president of the JD(U), Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, would soon be replaced.
‘We are united’
Reacting to the BJP leader’s claim, Mr. Kumar said, “I do not pay attention to who says what. Nowadays people keep saying whatever comes to their mind for their own benefit. No one is going to get any benefit. Everyone is united in our party and there is no problem. We all are working together. Someone has control over the media people but I respect the media and will always do so. Our party and ‘INDIA’ alliance are united.”
Accompanied by several Ministers of his Cabinet, including Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav at the function, Mr. Kumar said that ever since he was elected as an MP, he had good relations with Vajpayee ji.
“When his [Vajpayee] government was formed, he gave me the responsibility of three departments and he respected me a lot. There is a feeling of respect for him. Atal ji has a big contribution in making me the Chief Minister. I have always had respect for him and it will remain for the rest of my life,” Mr. Kumar said.