Prez election: Nitish slams Opposition, says 'Meira Kumar was nominated only to lose'

Nitish said his choice should not be made an issue of political confrontation. Photo: ANI

NEW DELHI: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday slammed Opposition for questioning his decision to support NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind in Presidential election and Opposition's pick Meira Kumar was only nominated to lose. "There is no doubt about the result. We have lot of respect for 'Bihar Ki Beti' (Meira Kumar). But the question is has Bihar Ki Beti been chosen to lose?" Kumar said the decision to support Kovind was taken at the meeting of JD(U)'s core committee. "We have taken this decision after thinking on all aspects. And as far as JD(U) is concerned, it has always taken independent decisions, even when we were a part of NDA. We supported Pranab Mukherjee as the UPA candidate that time." Stating that President's chair is not for political battle, Kumar said, "Had there been consensus, it would have been a good thing but I do not think it should be a matter of debate." "I had met Ram Bath Kovind and then had a word with Sonia ji and Sitaram Yechuri ji and I told them about my emotions that Ramnath Kovind ji had a praise worthy role in Bihar as the governor. He had worked in Bihar without any bias." Nitish's statement came after he faced fresh calls from ally and RJD chief Lalu Prasad as well as from some opposition parties to reconsider his party JD(U)'s support to NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. Prasad earlier in the day said that the opposition parties are still treading on the path Nitish Kumar had suggested to make the country 'Sangh-mukt'. "...don't know what made Kumar to move away and extend support to a RSS man," he told reporters on his arrival at the JayAprakash Narayan Airport at Patna from New Delhi. Later in the evening, Prasad when asked if he had talks with Nitish Kumar said, "This is not the occasion to speak on such subjects." The CPI also urged Kumar as well as BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik to re-consider their decision to support Kovind. "We appeal to both the chief ministers of Odisha and Bihar to re-consider their decision and support a secular candidate like Meira Kumar. Above all, both BJD and JD(U) are not part of the BJP-led NDA," CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy told reporters in Bhubaneswar. Reddy, accompanied by CPI national secretary Dr K Narayanana, said they hope both Patnaik and Kumar will have a rethink before casting their vote in favour of Kovind, whom they described as a "Sangha Parivar member." "We do not know the reasons behind both Patnaik and Kumar supporting the NDA candidate," Reddy said adding, the CPI will contact the BJD and JD(U) before the presidential polls. Stating that the country needs a secular person to become the President in the backdrop of attacks on dalits and minorities since the NDA government assumed office at the Centre, Reddy said opposition parties have fielded Meira Kumar keeping her background in consideration. "She (Meira Kumar) has been the Speaker of Lok Sabha, having knowledge on external affairs matters and above all the daughter of Jagjivan Ram," Reddy pointed out. (With PTI inputs)