Nitish Kumar To Be Named Oppn Presidential Candidate? Here Is What The Bihar CM Said

Maharashtra minister and NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said Nitish Kumar's name could be considered only if his party JD(U) snaps ties with the BJP.

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New Delhi: Reacting to rumours that he could be made the Presidential candidate by the Opposition, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said "I have no idea like that in my mind".

#WATCH | Bhagalpur: On being asked about speculations that he can be made the Presidential candidate by the Opposition, Bihar CM and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar says, "I have no idea like that in my mind." pic.twitter.com/Jkj8X7ptnL

— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2022

According to ABP News sources, all the Opposition parties, except Congress, are working on presenting a third front by pitching Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as the next presidential candidate.

Recently, Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao held a meeting with Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. However, there was no discussion about Nitish Kumar or even the presidential candidate of the opposition, Shiv Sena sources said.

READ | Shiv Sena Denies Discussion On Nitish Kumar’s Name As Presidential Candidate In Meeting With KCR

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra minister and NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said Nitish Kumar's name could be considered for the post of the country's next President only if his party JD(U) snapped ties with the BJP.

The JD(U) currently shares power with the BJP in Bihar.

"There cannot be a discussion on this until he (Nitish Kumar) breaks ties with the BJP. First, he should snap ties with the BJP and only then a thought can be given (to his candidature). Leaders of all (opposition) parties will then sit together and think about it," PTI quoted Malik as saying.

He said the process had been initiated to form an anti-BJP front at the national level before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. 

"The front will be created under the collective leadership of opposition parties," he said. Malik, however, said such a front cannot be formed minus the Congress.

Meanwhile, ABP news sources close to Prashant Kishore said that there were chances of KCR himself getting supported by the opposition leaders as the presidential candidate.