Not in race for PM but have credentials to be one: Nitish Kumar

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar denied being in the race for prime ministership on Monday, but said he had the credentials required for the post.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the Janata Darbar, Kumar said he was not a claimant for the PM’s post.

“I am working in national interest while in Bihar. I put my views on national issues in a categorical and transparent way,” he said.

Kumar added, “I have nothing to say on the matter. It all depends on what people think about others. The people of Bihar have given me a massive mandate for the third successive term, which is not an ordinary thing. People trust me and I will not let them down.”

Talking about his efforts to float an anti-BJP front at the national level ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Kumar said he had always insisted on broad unity among like-minded parties that could defeat the BJP.

“Efforts are on. Even though JD(U) and Lalu Prasad’s party did not merge, it led to the formation of a Grand Alliance that also comprises the Congress and it was appreciated across the country,” he said.

Referring to the merger plans of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (P) and JD(U), Kumar said a merger was not the only solution to challenge the might of the BJP and a broad alliance, like the one successfully implemented in Bihar, could also be a way out.

The chief minister said the added responsibility on him as the national president of the JD(U) would not impact his determination to serve the state. “Bihar is my first priority. I have to take up the responsibility of the JD(U) chief as Sharad Yadav refused to continue for the fourth time,” he said.