Mr Kumar, when questioned about the matter, called it “nonsense”. “I neither want nor expect (this),” he said.
The Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), after a meeting of its National Council in Patna on Sunday evening, said the Bihar Chief Minister has all the qualities to become the Prime Minister but he is not in the race for the post. Mr Kumar, when questioned about the matter, called it “nonsense”. “I neither want nor expect (this),” he said.
While briefing the media after the meeting, Senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi underscored the same.
“Nitish Kumar is not a claimant for the post of the Prime Minister. We are in the NDA and our candidate for the Prime Minister’s post is Narendra Modi… Although Nitish Kumar has all the qualities required in a prime minister,” said Mr Tyagi.
Upendra Kushwaha, a senior JDU leader, after being named the leader of the JD(U) parliamentary party earlier this month, had called Mr Nitish Kumar “PM material”.
“People made Narendra Modi PM today and he’s doing good work. But there are others in the country who have the potential to become PM. Of them is Nitish Kumar. He should be called PM-material and it’s not about challenging PM Modi,” Mr Kushwaha had said.
However, the Bihar Chief Minister refuted it soon after, saying “There’s nothing like this. Why should I be (PM Material)? I am not interested in all these things”.
However, such statements from the ally JDU have ruffled feathers in the camp of the BJP, which is now a senior partner in the alliance.
“Some leaders said he is PM Material. But there is no vacancy. Being PM material and making a claim are different things. There is a heaven and hell difference… We are a small party. How can we make such a claim?” said party National President Lallan Singh.
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