Nitish Kumar Denies PM Candidature Ambitions, Says ‘I Am Not Even A Claimant’

Nitish Kumar met with CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury amid the speculations of his candidature for PM which he later denied. Earlier in the day he met with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury talk to the media after their meeting, in New Delhi.

New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday denied speculation regarding his candidature for the post of Prime Minister in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections saying that he is “not even a claimant” for the post. The Bihar Chief Minister’s statement came after he met with Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury. 

"We are together, that is why I am coming here”, said Nitish on meeting CPM leader Yechury. "If different parties come together it will be a huge thing," he added, quoted by news agency ANI. 

While addressing the media today, Nitish Kumar said, "We have discussed that if the Left parties, regional parties in different states, and Congress come together then it will be a huge thing."

Earlier in the day, the Janata Dal United chief met with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi here and discussed the strategy for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the possibility of bringing like minded parties together. 

As per the ANI report citing its sources with the Congress party, Nitish — who met for the first time after reunification with Mahagathbandhan of which Congress is an ally — expressed gratitude to Rahul Gandhi for his party’s support to the former’s government. 

Both the parties will continue their "concrete discussions" in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, the news agency reported, further quoting sources as saying. 

The Bihar Chief Minister during his visit to the national capital also met with former Karnataka CM and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy.

After severing ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar to form government by joining hands with the Mahagathbandhan — an alliance between JD(U), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal — speculations were rife about Nitish Kumar’s aspirations for the post of Prime Minister. The speculations were fanned by Kumar’s meetings with the Opposition leader but the Bihar CM cleared the air on the matter. 

Kumar, once again in Delhi, called for opposition unity and ruled out harbouring prime ministerial aspirations. "If the opposition will get united, then a good atmosphere will be created. I have no desire and no aspiration (to become prime minister)," the Bihar CM told the media.