Paswan mocks possibility of Nitish becoming PM

Patna: Union Minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday mocked at the chances of Nitish Kumar becoming the Prime Minister in 2019, stating there was no vacancy for the post in the next 15 years. "Nitish Ji Apne Muh Miya Mithu ban rahe hain kyonki agle 15 saal tak PM post mein koyi vacancy nahi hain (Nitish Kumar is unnecessarily blowing his own trumpet as there is no vacancy for PMs post in next 15 years with Narendra Modi continuing in the chair)," Paswan told reporters. The LJP chief was reacting on NCP President Sharad Pawars recent backing of Kumar for the PMs post. Paswan claimed Pawar had made the comment in a lighter vein since there was no serious thought in backing Kumar for the post. On RJD President Lalu Prasad also supporting Kumar for the top post, Paswan, a Strong rival of both Kumar and the RJD leader said, "Lalu has his own game plan in saying so. Nobody has ever been secure after aligning with the RJD chief." "Sharad Pawar has six MPs, Lalu 3 and JD(U) 2. Can he (Nitish) become PM on the basis of this much (number of) Parliamentarians," the Union minister for Food and Consumer Affairs asked. He said the opposition should first decide who among Rahul Gandhi, Nitish Kumar, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Jayalalithaa, Mamata Banerjee and Navin Patnaik could be the PM contender. Asked about his own chances for the PMs post, the veteran Parliamentarian said, "We are in NDA in which Narendra Modi is the leader and will continue to be so in future too." During the press conference where the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Brishen Patel joined him, Paswan was asked about the possibility of merger of LJP, HAM and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, all BJP allies in NDA. He dismissed any such merger and said "we are in NDA and will continue to be there in future." On complete ban on alcohol in Bihar, the LJP chief said he was in favour of the move "but Nitish Kumar should answer why did he serve people with free flow of liquor in past 10 years."