I.N.D.I.A agrees upon Nitish Kumar as PM face, Bihar Dy Speaker says 'will announce soon'

Amid buzz in the party over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar being projected as the prime ministerial candidate in 2024, Janata Dal (United) (JDU) leader and deputy Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly Maheshwar Hazari assured that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) has agreed and would soon announce CM Nitish Kumar’s name for the PM’s face.

“Five-time Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has had a long political career. Being a former Union Minister, he has all the qualities to become the next Prime Minister of the country. Every socialist leader wants to make Nitish Kumar the Prime Minister,” said Hazari.

The JD(U) leader made the statement on Saturday at the CM’s residence during a meeting chaired by Nitish Kumar, which was attended by JD(U) spokespersons and officials of different wings. JD(U) national President Lalan Singh, Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, JD(U) state unit chief Umesh Kushwaha, JD(U) MLCs Neeraj Kumar, Abhishek Jha, Manjeet Singh, and others were also present at the meeting.

However, JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said that he has no knowledge about any such development.

“I know that a BJP Rajya Sabha MP once said that Nitish Kumar is PM material who has all the abilities to become the opposition’s prime ministerial face. However, Nitish Kumar has already clarified several times that he is not aiming for any post,” Kumar said.

JD(U) President reiterates pitch

Earlier, JD(U) President Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan, pitched for Kumar's name as the PM face.

Addressing a gathering in Nitish Kumar's home constituency, Harnaut, from where Nitish Kumar was first elected as an MLA in 1985, Singh said, "Your leader is ready to lead the country."

"You (the public) have all given such a leader to Bihar who has led the state so well, and now he is ready to lead the nation," said Singh, indirectly proposing Nitish Kumar’s candidature for Prime Minister of India in 2024.