Nitish's opposition outreach: Amid hectic parleys, JDU chief says ‘not in PM race’
NEW DELHI: On the second day of his visit to Delhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday met several Opposition leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, former Haryana CM OP Chautala, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav among others.
After meeting Kejriwal at his residence, Kumar reiterated that he is not in the race for the Opposition’s PM pick in the 2024 general elections.
Kejriwal tweeted that the two leaders discussed several key issues, such as education, health and BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ to topple state governments led by Opposition parties.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha were also present at the meeting, which lasted for 90 minutes.
Political observers say that the meeting assumes significance as Kejriwal and Kumar are the frontrunners for the PM post. While the AAP has been projecting Kejriwal as the leader to take on PM Narendra Modi, the Delhi CM has made it clear that he is not keen to enter into any alliance with regional parties in the 2024 elections.
The Left parties, CPM and CPI, say that Kumar’s return to the Opposition fold and his efforts to bring together secular democratic parties as a great signal.
After meeting Kumar at his office, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “Nitish spoke of his commitment to uniting the secular democratic opposition to save India’s Constitution. This echoes with us.”
Recalling his early association with CPM, Kumar said that he used to visit the office during his Delhi visits.
“Today we are all together again,” he said.
CPI general secretary D Raja said Kumar’s efforts to unite like-minded parties to fight the BJP are in a positive direction. He said there are differences among regional parties on certain issues, but they also share common ground on various other issues.
“For instance, DMK is fighting BJP in Tamil Nadu, KCR is fighting BJP in Telangana and so is RJD in Bihar,” he said.
RCP Singh vents spleen against Bihar CM
Meanwhile, former Union minister RCP Singh on Tuesday vented spleen against Nitish, accusing him of "betraying" his socialist roots by aligning with the Congress which revolutionary leader Jayaprakash Narayan had fought tooth and nail.
Singh, who had to resign from the Union cabinet after denial of another Rajya Sabha term by the JD(U), also alleged while talking to reporters here that the Bihar CM liked a "darbaari" (courtly) culture, a reason why his public interaction has been named "janta durbar".
He also sought a white paper on the weekly public interaction programme, alleging that money was splurged but nothing came of it.
Senior JD(U) leader and state minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, however, shot back, making an oblique reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
"He should remember that Nitish Kumar was praised as the only true socialist after JP, Lohia and George Fernandes, by none other than the one before whom he has been prostrating (jinke charanon mein vo lete hue hain)," Chaudhary told PTI.
Notably, the PM had appreciated Kumar for remaining free of the taint of dynasty politics in an interview several months ago.
Chaudhary also reminded Singh, a bureaucrat-turned-politician, "JP was never in favor of RSS people joining his movement. The issue of dual membership led to the Janata Party government's fall. Clearly, RCP has poor knowledge of the history of socialist movement."
The "darbaari culture" claim by Singh, who served as Kumar's private and then principal secretary until resigning from the IAS and joining the JD(U) in 2010, was also ridiculed by Chaudhary.
"It is he (RCP) who likes to hold a durbar and lord over others, a complaint that the party rank and file used to make when he was the JD(U) national president," said Chaudhary.
"He should also know that the name of the programme is 'Janata Ke Durbar Mein Mukhyamantri' which clearly indicates the CM's belief that the people are supreme and we are supposed to serve them," the state minister asserted.
The minister also slammed Singh for demanding a white paper on the weekly public interaction programme.
"Most complaints usually pertain to education department. These are redressed and proper records are maintained. If he cares about facts he should give up the white paper rhetoric and meet us to learn what this programme has achieved," said Chaudhary.
"I have been active in politics for 40 years. I challenge RCP to show one chief minister who has toured villages to learn firsthand the problems faced by people as much has Nitish Kumar has done. He would have known it had he himself not been just a durbaari (courtier)," Chaudhary added.
(With PTI Inputs)