Bihar: ‘Not eyeing PM post’, says Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Though CM Nitish Kumar reiterated on Friday that he has no aspiration for the prime minister’s post, JD(U) workers raised slogans like ‘Desh ka PM kaisa ho, Nitish Kumar jaisa ho’ when he (Nitish) reached the party office here to review preparations for the national executive and council meetings to be held on September 3 and 4.
“I time and again request you (media persons) not to ask questions about the PM’s post, but you keep asking same question,” Nitish told a reporter at the party office.
However, the CM responded with broad smile when the party workers loudly raised slogans projecting him as the PM candidate.
“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 Saturday, I will attend different meetings at the party office,” Nitish said. He added the decision regarding starting the membership drive of the party would also be taken at the 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 is expected to address both the 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 4pm on Saturday, the party’s national office-bearers’ meeting will be held at 3pm at the JD(U) office,” Khan said, adding the national office-bearers’ meeting would be presided by JD(U) chief Lalan 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 11am on Saturday.