Ahead of INDIA bloc's meeting, Nitish Kumar as convener buzz grows strong

Nitish Kumar can counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strength and popularity in the so-called Hindi heartland, feel INDIA bloc leaders.

The opposition INDIA bloc will meet virtually on January 4 evening, with reports suggesting that Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar could be named the convener of the 28-party alliance that plans to take on the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

There was near consensus on Bihar CM’s name with senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi and Bengal CM and Trinamool Party chief Mamata Banerjee pushing for Kumar, who recently took over as the JD (U) president, a News18 report said.

Not all parties would be available for the virtual meet. “Around 10-12 parties will participate, and the decision will be conveyed to the others,” the report cited a source as saying.

Kumar is seen as the viable candidate since he is from the so-called Hindi heartland, which the bloc feels would counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strength and popularity in the region.

“At a time when Rahul Gandhi is embarking on an important yatra, we want to keep the momentum going. If Nitish Kumar crosses over to the BJP-led NDA, the effort to unite the Opposition will fizzle out. Most of the INDIA bloc members seem to share this concern. The Congress, anyway, will maintain its primacy as the leading party in the alliance by keeping the position of national president or chairperson with Kharge,” an Indian Express report quoted a Congress leader as saying.

INDIA bloc's 'axis'

Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh, too, signalled that Kumar would be made the alliance convener. A Times of India report quoted Singh as saying that rumours were being floated about Kumar going away from the INDIA bloc it won’t happen.

He praised the Bihar CM for his efforts to unite the opposition parties and called him the “axis” of the INDIA bloc. “Very soon, the confusion will be clear and BJP will get a lesson in 2024. In fact, BJP people lost their sleep the day Nitish left them,” Singh was quoted as saying.

Kumar’s deputy Tejashwi Yadav, too, supported the proposal. The Bihar CM was an experienced leader and it would be great if he was made the convener, Yadav said.

Yadav, who belongs to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), also exuded confidence that the seat sharing would be sorted out “without any problem”.

“Nitish Kumar is such a senior leader. If such a proposal comes, it will be great for Bihar,” Yadav told reporters at the Gaya airport when asked if the JD(U) chief could be the INDIA convener.