Maintaining that there is a need for an Atal Behari Vajpayee-like thinking to govern the country, Janata Dal (U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the party will decide on the BJP-led NDA alliance if its voice was not heard.
Participating in the party’s national council meeting, which began on Saturday, Nitish Kumar made it clear that he was not in the race for Prime Ministership.
He said, “There is a need for a Vajpayee-like thinking to govern this country. Atalji always used to say follow your Rajdharma. If our view is ignored, then we will take a step. We want the train to be on track. But if it derails, we will decide according to the situation and time on what to do. Who has seen tomorrow?”
In his forty-minute speech, Nitish praised the virtues of Vajpayee thrice and said his ‘Rajdharma’ was the way forward. He also said the coalition needed a leader like Vajpayee who respected every partner.
“Considering the age, I am very young, but Vajpayee used to give a lot of respect,” he said. “Under Vajpayee’s leadership, the BJP gained many new allies. Only one who can carry with him all diverse sections of people can become the leader of the nation. Now, if there is an attempt to change the path, there are bound to be problems. The country is not run by mere projection. Some persons think they will create a wave and people will accept it,” Kumar added.
He added, “Compromises are made in politics but there are certain fundamental principles. Compromising with secularism to remain in power, no we will never do it. We cannot compromise with our basic principles.” He said the JD(U) will try to ensure that the country gets a prime minister who can carry every section of the society towards inclusive development and who will be committed and sensitive towards the development of backward states and regions.
The JD(U), in its political resolution, gave an eight-month deadline to the BJP to come out with its PM candidate having secular credibility beyond doubt for the next general elections.
The resolution said the candidate should be committed to the national agenda of governance of the NDA and the earlier decided position on the three issues of Ram temple at Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code.