Though Nitish Kumar has switched partners to head a JD (U)-led NDA government in the state, he is set to stand by his promise to support UPA’s vice presidential nominee Gopal Krishna Gandhi.
The question has been doing rounds over JD (U)’s stand, since Wednesday’s political upheaval, in the changed circumstances.
Confirming the development, a senior party leader said Kumar has cleared his stand on the issue, saying “the tie-up with BJP has been done in the interest of the state, but the decision to support Gandhi was taken keeping his ability and identity in mind.”
The chief minister, who also heads the party, has asked legislators not to mix the two issues.
“There is no cause to prompt a change in party’s stance,” he said, hinting that the fast-paced political development had no bearing on its earlier stand.
Gandhi, it may be recalled, was the first choice of JD(U) for being declared as the presidential face from the Opposition block (UPA), with Kumar himself proposing the name to CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury at a meeting in Chennai coinciding with DMK strongman M Karunanidhi’s birthday.
As the Congress dragged its feet on the issue, Kumar announced his support to NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind.
{{/usCountry}}As the Congress dragged its feet on the issue, Kumar announced his support to NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind.
{{/usCountry}}While preferring to break ranks with the Opposition over the issue of support to Congress presidential nominee Meira Kumar, Kumar tried to balance his ‘independent decision taking streak’ by underlining his
support for Gandhi, who was picked up by the Opposition parties as the vice presidential
candidate. Former JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and secretary general KC Tyagi were present during the filing of nomination papers by Gandhi.