Upendra Kushwaha says Nitish is PM face, unmindful of annoying their allies in Bihar

There is a race among the JDU leaders to project Nitish Kumar as PM face for 2024 LS polls. Indirectly, the JDU leaders are provoking the BJP and are not worried about BJP's feelings about the same. in fact, JDU parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha is relentlessly pitching Bihar CM for PM post, writes ETV Bharat's Patna Bureau Chief Amit Bhelari.

Patna (Bihar): 'Desh Ka PM Kaisa Ho, Nitish Kumar Jaisa Ho'slogans echoing in the air of Bihar so as the politics has begun on the issue of Nitish as 'PM face'. There is a race among the JDU leaders to project Nitish as PM in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Indirectly, the JDU leaders are provoking the BJP and are not worried about BJP's feelings about the same. In fact, JDU parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha is relentlessly pitching Bihar CM for PM post.

Today Kushwaha went one step ahead claiming that he was not bothered if anybody is feeling bad about it. “One-and-half months ago, I had said that Nitish ji is suitable for PM post and I am reiterating the same again. We have no intention to tease anyone but if anybody is feeling bad, let them do so. I cannot help it. Nitish ji has all the qualities and vision to lead the country,” Kuswaha said in Patna on Monday.

JDU however accepted that though Nitish is not in the race for the PM post but has all the capabilities for the plum post. The ruling party even passed a resolution on Sunday during the national council meeting in which Nitish was also present. All the JDU leaders stood united on the issue and one after another, they echoed that Nitish is a PM candidate. JDU principal general secretary and national spokesperson K C Tyagi, JDU national president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh echoed the same.

Nitish on the other hand had categorically denied having any such desire of being projected as PM candidate. However, the fact remains that Nitish is nurturing big political ambitions and not averse to take up the mantle at national level.

Read: Kushwaha asks BJP to resolve inner conflict on caste census

As a matured politician Nitish has downplayed the statement of the JDU leaders but it has become evident from the fact that the party is preparing the plank for 2024 general elections. Though Congress is the natural opposition of the BJP as far as the Lok Sabha election is concerned, time and again the Congress leadership has disappointed the people by its performance. Congress party is already struggling with the leadership issue after the debacle of the party in 2019. Not only this, the internal conflict within the Congress party has raised serious questions on its future.

Looking at all the possibilities if there are any chances of the third front, Nitish wouldn't be averse if all opposition parties like to project him as PM candidate. This is not the first time that Nitish is being projected as PM face. Right after 2010 as CM of Bihar, many leaders from the JDU had projected him as PM but all the attempts turned futile.

In the recent past, Nitish's JDU has been trying to create pressure on BJP by differing with them on several issues, be it demand of inquiry in the Pegasus spyware or caste census and population control. The latest pressure politics was visible on Sunday when JDU demanded an NDA coordination committee at both state and central level to discuss several issues on which both parties differ at times.

Interestingly, the last coordination committee was formed during the regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Even political observers opined that JDU wants to send a clear message to BJP that Nitish is not restricted to Bihar only.

“By continuously stressing upon Nitish as PM face, JDU wants to send a clear message that they are an established political party and Nitish is a possible candidate in the race for the PM post if a situation arises. It's loud and clear that JDU wants to project Nitish as a national leader and not only restricted to Bihar. It's also an indication that if there are any possibilities, JDU is game for it," said Patna based political expert Dr Sanjay Kumar.

He further said, “No doubt Nitish is running the government with an alliance with BJP but he differs with them on several issues. Be it caste census, population control policy, NRC, CAA and the much recent demand of making the recommendation of Justice Rohini Commission to the public. Slogans of PM is a clear indication for 2024 general election nothing else."

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