JD(U) workers raise slogans projecting Nitish as 'future PM', but Bihar CM denies having such aspiration

PATNA: “Desh ka PM Kaisa Ho, Nitish Kumar Jaisa Ho": the JD(U) office here reverberated with slogans like this on Friday as Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar reached the premises to review preparations for the party’s national executive and council meetings to be held on September 3 and 4, even as he once again denied having any aspiration for the prime minister’s post.
“Time and again I have forbidden you (media persons) not to ask questions about the PM’s post, but you keep asking the same question,” Nitish told a reporter at the party office when he said that many people wanted him as the next PM.
However, when the party workers raised slogans projecting Nitish as the PM candidate, the JD(U) de facto leader responded with broad smile. The slogan, “Desh Ka PM Kaisa Ho, Nitish Kumar Jaisa Ho”, rend the air at the JD(U) office while Nitish was reviewing preparations for the two-day national executive and council meetings.
“The party leaders from across the country are arriving here to attend the two-day event. So, I came here to review the preparations. From tomorrow, I will stay here at the party office and attend different meetings,” Nitish said. He said the decision regarding starting the membership drive would also be taken at the party meeting. Nitish was accompanied by the party’s national president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh and state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha.
“Around 125 party leaders from across the country, including the state presidents from 26 state and Union territories, will attend the national executive meeting on Saturday, while more than 250 party leaders will attend the national council meeting on Sunday,” JD(U) national general secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan told TOI on Friday.
Nitish Kumar is expected to address both the crucial meetings, he said. It will be the JD(U)’s first national executive meeting after Nitish dumped the BJP in Bihar and joined hands with Lalu Prasad-led RJD.
“Prior to the national executive meeting, scheduled to be held at 4 pm on Saturday, the party’s national office-bearers' meeting will be held at 3 pm at the JD(U) office,” Khan said, adding the office-bearers' meeting would be presided over by JD(U) chief Singh.
On Friday, a meeting of the JD(U) state office-bearers was held at the Karpoori Sabhagar in the party office. The meeting approved the agenda to be placed at the party’s state executive meeting, to be held at 11 am on Saturday.