Nitish will be CM if NDA wins elections, says JD(U)
Patna: Amid fresh speculation over the NDA's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly elections, the JD(U) on Saturday reiterated that
Nitish Kumar
would be the alliance's nominee.
The party cited the BJP's past statements affirming that the leader who spearheads the campaign would ultimately take the top post.
The renewed debate followed an interview given by Union home minister Amit Shah to an English daily. When asked who would be the NDA's CM candidate, Shah said on Friday, "Only time will decide who will be the Bihar CM. But what is clear is that we will fight this election with Nitish as chief minister."
Reacting to the comment, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, "All NDA constituents, including their state presidents and Amit Shahji, have clearly said that the election would be fought under Nitish's leadership. So, naturally, he will be the CM if the people give him the mandate. The public also desires this."
He dismissed suggestions of ambiguity, saying that even PM Narendra Modi has invoked Lalu Prasad's 'jungle raj' while affirming Nitish's leadership.
"Even the 2020 elections were fought under Nitish and he became CM," Neeraj Kumar added.
Highlighting the NDA's unified stance, Kumar said, "The alliance has adopted the slogan '2025, Phir Se Nitish.' When this is the message on posters and in slogans, Shah's statement must be understood in that context."
However, leader of the opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav took a swipe at JD(U), saying that Nitish's authority had diminished to such an extent that ticket distribution would now be done by Shah.
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