'Nitish Abandoned BJP For PM's Chair, I.N.D.I.A Didn't Make Him Even Convenor': Sushil Modi's Dig At Bihar CM

Sushil Modi has slammed Nitish Kumar, saying that he left the BJP expecting to become prime minister but that the opposition did not even appoint him as convenor.

BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday took a jibe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that Kumar assumed he would be appointed the convenor at a recent opposition party meeting. However, Kumar's expectations were not met, with leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee proposing Mallikarjun Kharge's name instead. "The one who has 44 MLAs, why would anybody propose his name? Nitish Kumar has this misconception, he left the BJP so that he could become the Prime Minister. Leave the position of PM, he didn't even get the position of convenor," remarked Modi.

While Kumar initiated efforts to unite opposition parties, he has consistently denied any desire for the prime ministerial position.

Earlier remarks from JD(U) MP Sunil Kumar Pintu highlighted the limited scope of discussions at the recent Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) gathering. "Given the financial challenges faced by the Congress, discussions were restricted, culminating in conversations over tea and biscuits, devoid of substantive talks," Pintu told ANI. 

The I.N.D.I.A bloc aspires to finalise seat-sharing agreements by December 31. Banerjee previously touted Kharge as a potential candidate for India's first Dalit Prime Minister, a sentiment endorsed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. However, Kharge has distanced himself from leveraging his Dalit background for political advantage.

Pintu further hinted at potential friction within the alliance. Should the Congress party not resolve seat allocations by December's end, JD(U) may reconsider its participation in subsequent meetings, ANI reported.

In a show of solidarity, the I.N.D.I.A bloc has scheduled joint protests for December 22, opposing the suspension of numerous Opposition MPs during the recent Winter session of Parliament.

Additionally, the alliance members expressed scepticism about electronic voting machines (EVMs). They endorsed a resolution advocating for a system where Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips are given to voters for verification, then placed in distinct ballot boxes. During a closed-door session, Rahul Gandhi's inquiry about EVM trustworthiness was met with silence.

It is to be noted that several leaders including Nitish Kumar, DMK chief MK Stalin, Lalu Prasad, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, Banerjee, and Kejriwal refrained from media interactions post-meeting, diverging from past practices.