In today’s INDIA bloc meeting, tensions escalated as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav left the gathering early, expressing dissatisfaction with the proposal of Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge as the prime ministerial candidate, according to sources.
During the meeting in New Delhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee suggested Kharge’s name for the prime ministerial candidacy, prompting disagreement from Yadav and Kumar. Following this disagreement, the leaders departed the alliance meeting prematurely and did not participate in the subsequent press conference.
Leading up to the INDIA bloc meeting, there were public demands from Nitish Kumar’s party MLAs and RJD leaders for the declaration of Nitish Kumar as the Opposition’s prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Lalu Yadav had previously voiced support for Nitish Kumar, emphasizing that there was no challenge before him.
Political analysts speculate that the RJD’s move to position Nitish Kumar in national politics aims to pave the way for Tejashwi Yadav to assume the position of Chief Minister in Bihar.
Despite the rift within the opposition alliance, no consensus has been reached on the bloc’s prime ministerial candidate. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that any decision on the candidate would be deferred until after the elections.
“We have to win first and think about what to do to win. What is the point in discussing the PM before having MPs? We will try to get a majority together,” Kharge emphasized. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also proposed Kharge’s name as the prime ministerial candidate during the meeting.
Kharge further mentioned that alliance partners will prioritize seat-sharing talks at the state level and conduct public meetings across the country in the coming days. The lack of a unanimous decision on the prime ministerial candidate adds a layer of complexity to the opposition alliance’s strategy for the upcoming elections.
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