NEW DELHI: Nitish Kumar has once again taken over the reins of Janata Dal (United) in a move that seems to be directed at renewing his claim to the leadership of anti-BJP
opposition bloc
INDIA (India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance).
JD(U) leaders, who have been upset about Nitish not being given the due in opposition alliance, were quick to describe the Bihar chief minister the convener and the 'prime minister of ideas' of the INDIA bloc.
In a clear message to other INDIA parties, the JD(U), in its political resolution passed today, pitched for responsibility as per experience and capabilities. It also urged the bigger parties of the INDIA bloc to "show a big heart" to make the alliance successful.
"The JD(U) believes that bigger parties in the alliance have more responsibilities. They will have to show a big heart to make this grand alliance successful. They will have to be generous if any leader has to be given the responsibility as per experience and capabilities," the party said.
The renewed bid to pitchfork Nitish for INDIA leadership role comes amid a proposal made by two leaders to project Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as the
PM face
of the opposition bloc.
At the last meeting of the INDIA bloc in Delhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal had proposed the name of Kharge as opposition's PM face.
While Nitish Kumar had agreed to the proposal and made it clear that he was not in the race to lead the opposition bloc, several JD(U) leaders were unhappy over the development. One party MLA had made his disappointment public and questioned 'Who is this Kharge-varge'. The party leaders argue that Nitish has worked very hard to bring together the regional parties on one platform against the BJP.
The political resolution goes all out to highlight the leadership credentials of Nitish Kumar and his ability to take everyone along even under adverse circumstances.
Describing him as the architect of the alliance, the JD(U)political resolution says, "Nitish ji symbolises the hope of the backwards, extremely backwards, deprived, minorities and crores of unemployed youths."
When Nitish Kumar had joined hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) after dumping the BJP, he had said that the next Bihar elections would be held under the leadership of his deputy Tejashwi Yadav. That was a clear hint about Nitish Kumar's desire for a leadership role in the opposition bloc.
Clearly, the JD(U) will go all out to project Nitish Kumar as the leader of the INDIA bloc.
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