During today's INDIA bloc meeting, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav reportedly left prematurely due to their discontent with the proposition of Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge as the prime ministerial candidate, according to sources cited by India Today TV.
Sources reveal that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed Mallikarjun Kharge's name for the prime ministerial candidate during the opposition alliance meeting in New Delhi, leading to the expressed disagreement between Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar. Following this disagreement, both leaders departed from the alliance meeting ahead of schedule and opted not to attend the subsequent press conference.
Before the INDIA bloc meeting, Nitish Kumar's party MLAs, along with RJD leaders, publicly advocated for the declaration of Nitish Kumar as the Opposition's prime ministerial candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. It is noteworthy that Lalu Yadav had previously voiced support for Nitish Kumar, asserting that Nitish Kumar faces no challenge.
Political analysts speculate that the RJD aims to position Nitish Kumar on the national stage, potentially paving the way for Tejashwi Yadav to assume the role of Chief Minister in Bihar.
Meanwhile, the opposition alliance has yet to reach a consensus on the bloc's prime ministerial candidate. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge conveyed that any decision regarding the prime ministerial candidate would be made after the elections.
"We have to win first and think about what to do to win. What is the point of discussing the PM before having MPs? We will try to get a majority together," remarked Kharge when questioned about the alliance's prime ministerial face. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also proposed Kharge's name as the prime ministerial candidate.
Kharge further emphasized that alliance partners would concentrate on seat-sharing negotiations at the state level and organize public meetings across the country.
