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Congress’s Bihar chief says Rahul Gandhi remains their prime ministerial nominee

This comes amid speculation that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar could emerge as the probable face of Opposition parties for the country’s top post

Published on: Aug 19, 2022, 08:28:42 IST
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Congress’s Bihar unit chief Madan Mohan Jha has said that there is no change in their stand that Rahul Gandhi is the party’s prime ministerial candidate amid speculation that chief minister Nitish Kumar could emerge as the probable face of Opposition parties for the country’s top post.

Rahul Gandhi during a protest in New Delhi. (Hindustan Times)
Rahul Gandhi during a protest in New Delhi. (Hindustan Times)

The speculation was fuelled after Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and formed the government in Bihar in alliance with Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Left parties this month.

“We believe he [Rahul Gandhi] is the candidate until he puts forward somebody else’s candidature. Leaders and workers of the parties make optimistic claims and some even shout slogans in favour of their leaders. But ...Nitish Kumar has never expressed his willingness to be the prime ministerial candidate,” said Jha on Thursday.

Upendra Kushwaha, a leader of Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), has said the Bihar chief minister has the qualifications to become the prime minister even as he has not ever spoken about any such ambition.

Kumar’s deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has refused to comment on Kumar’s candidature for the top post and left it to the chief minister to address the issue.

  • Subhash Pathak
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Subhash Pathak

    Subhash Pathak is special correspondent of Hindustan Times with over 15 years of experience in journalism, covering issues related to governance, legislature, police, Maoism, urban and road infrastructure of Bihar and Jharkhand.Read More

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