Patna: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao’s move to field Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the opposition candidate in the forthcoming Presidential elections. It is rumored that election strategist Prashant Kishore met Nitish Kumar yesterday with a message from Chandrasekhara Rao.
Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar has denied reports of a presidential nomination. Nitish responded that he had no such thought in his mind and had no knowledge of such discussions.
There are indications that the RJD also supports Chandrasekhara Rao’s plan to oust Nitish Kumar, who has been at loggerheads with the BJP over issues of caste census and special state status in Bihar. RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav recently visited Chandrasekhara Rao to discuss opposition strategies to be adopted, including in the presidential election.
According to JDU sources, Nitish Kumar will not step down or sever ties with the opposition before assessing the possibility of an opposition candidate in the July presidential election. With the results of the March 10 assembly elections in five states coming out, the strength of the presidential election will be even clearer. Chandrasekhara Rao will be able to make further moves only if the opposition parties unite to defeat the BJP candidate.
English Summary: Nitish Kumar debunks rumours of Presidential candidacy, says, ‘I didn’t even thought of it’
