After Lalu Yadav, Sharad Pawar backs Nitish Kumar as face of anti-BJP alliance

New Delhi: Retracting from his earlier statement, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Friday said that it is not appropriate to comment right now on whether Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar would be the face of the anti-BJP alliance. However, the veteran politician also made it clear that Nitish Kumar has proved his mettle in Bihar, thus he can't be ignored. "It is not appropriate right now to comment," he said, on Nitish Kumar as face of anti-BJP alliance. "As Nitish Kumar proved his mettle in his state and enjoys full support, I think its worth pointing out," he added. Describing Sonia Gandhi as the "cementing force in the Congress party", Pawar said that her leadership might be preferred by the party for Congress to stay united. Earlier, in an interview given to the Economic times, Pawar had endorsed Nitish Kumar as the most suitable candidate to lead the 'united opposition', if it comes into being. He had said that the JDU president will be the most credible face of an anti-BJP alliance. "As of today in India, if the Opposition has to come together and provide an alternative, he (Nitish Kumar) is the number one name,"  the Economic Times had quoted the veteran politician as saying. Pawar had said that Nitish is worthy of being the face of the 'united opposition' because he is a state chief minster and Congress does not have such a leader. He told ET that Congress president Sonia Gandhi "enjoys more acceptability including with other opposition parties". The NCP chief though believes it is too early to give a verdict on Rahul Gandhi as he has also evolved with time and making efforts to reach out to people. "As of today, I say Rahul Gandhi is the only leader who is practically visiting most states", he had told the newspaper. When asked whether the Aam Aadmi Praty chief Arvind Kejriwal is capable of being the leader of 'united opposition', Pawar had said that Kejriwal does not possess the charisma of Nitish Kumar as the latter has served as Union minister in past and has been elected chief minister of Bihar thrice. While Kejriwal, according to Pawar, is a less known personality and people have just heard his name. A few days ago, even the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had said he would back Nitish as future prime minister candidate. "Yes of course. There is no doubt about it," Lalu had said when asked if he would back Nitish as prime minister candidate. He also said he supported Nitish's call for a "Sangh-free India" and formation of an anti-BJP front for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.