Refusing to change his stand and reiterating his support to NDA’s Ram Nath Kovind for presidential election, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar on Friday retaliated by asserting that “Bihar ki beti” Meira Kumar has been fielded by the UPA only to face defeat.
“The presidential election and our stand should not be made an issue of political confrontation or link with our maha gathbandhan,” said Nitish after stepping out of 10, Circular Road residence of lalu Prasad where the RJD supremo had hosted iftar party.
“I am proud of ‘Bihar ki beti’ Meira Kumar who did excellent works as Minister and lok Sabha Speaker, but why she has been selected to contest an election only to be defeatedIJ” he asked bitterly.
The CM, whose party JD(U) did not attend the meeting of 17 parties in Delhi on Saturday to discuss the issue, had a swipe at Congress. He asked why the party ignored her on earlier two occasions when she would have won for Rashtrapati Bhavan. He even asked the UPA partners to reconsider their decision fielding former lok Sabha Speaker. “They should chart out strategy for victory 2019 and to ensure victory of ‘Bihar ki beti’ in 2022. But instead they started strategy to see defeat,” he said in a sarcastic manner.
Nitish said he has taken a decision only on the presidential election and all the parties have right to have their views. “Where is the issue of cracks in maha gathbandhan at this point of time. I am for Opposition unity but this election should not be linked with this. The result of presidential election is known to all,” he said.
When reminded that lalu said that Nitish was committing a historical blunder, the CM shot back, “Then let it leave on me. I don’t treat it as a political confrontation neither I blame anybody nor I have nothing to say about their decision. But my suggestion is that whatever strategy is chalked out for future, it should be effective and positive .”
He said the grand alliance in Bihar was very effective but conceded that there was no such alliance on national level. In this connection he also recalled the statement of Congress Bihar in-charge CP Joshi who said that Congress has no alliance with any party on national level.
The CM said his party took a decision considering all pros and cons in favour of Kovind. “It is a matter of pride for all of us that Bihar Governor is going to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Earlier it happened with Zakir Hussain but he had been elevated as Vice-President,” he added.
Earlier, at the iftar party, Nitish stayed there for about half an hour but hardly turned around lalu sitting next to him. They just exchanged pleasantries and most of the time the CM was seen speaking to Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Chaudhary sitting on his left.