Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s name has been proposed as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’s Prime Minister’s face for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, during the group’s latest meeting on Tuesday. However, according to sources, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Yadav who were dissatisfied with Kharge being the PM’s face showed their disapproval by walking out of the alliance meeting.
The sources stated that both the leaders didn’t even attend the subsequent press conference, clearly indicating that the INDI bloc is divided over Kharge being chosen as the PM face. Notably, during the fourth meeting of the INDI alliance, convened to discuss issues of seat sharing and campaigning for the upcoming elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed Kharge’s name, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had reportedly backed the proposal.
It is pertinent to note here that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, who is credited for bringing together the INDI Bloc, was expecting to be chosen as the convenor of the bloc, however, the alliance has not yet announced its convenor. Meanwhile, Kumar is hesitant about being the PM face, yet JD(U) party MLAs as well as RJD leaders have been outwardly pitching his name as a potential PM face. Even Lalu Yadav had expressed his support for Nitish earlier, stating that there is no challenge before Nitish Kumar.
According to political experts, RJD is attempting to position Nitish Kumar in national politics, so that subsequently, Tejashawi Yadav could assume the position of Bihar CM.
Reacting to the proposal, Union Minister and BJP leader, Giriraj Singh said that it is the proposal to oust Rahul Gandhi from the race.
On his name being proposed as the PM face, Kharge stated that any decision on the prime ministerial candidate would be made after the elections, adding that they would first win, and then think about the PM face.
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