Patna, Feb 22: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday dismissed speculations on chances of his becoming Presidential candidate for next term, saying he has no idea about any such move. Kumar while reacting to speculations on his becoming Presidential candidate for the next term, said that he had no idea about any such move. It was not even in his mind, he remarked. In the political circles speculations were rife that Kumar could be Presidential candidate of non Congress non BJP front which is taking its shape on initiative taken by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thakrey and Telengana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Noted poll strategist Prashant Kishor has also been playing vital role in stitching alliance of non Congress, non BJP opposition parties to provide strong alternative to the present regime at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. A recent meeting of poll strategist Prashant Kishor with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in New Delhi also formed a basis of such speculations in political circle. Both Kumar and Kishor, had however, said that no political meaning should be drawn from their meeting. Kishor had described his meeting with Kumar as courtesy call. Former RJD MLA Shakti Singh Yadav said that it would be an honour for him and his party that Kumar would be Presidential candidate.
Kumar was from Bihar and it would be pleasure for people of the state, he remarked. Former Bihar Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi, also president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), a constituent of NDA , said that Kumar had the potential to become President or Prime Minister. “It would be pleasant if Kumar became President,” he felt. As it is, term of President Ram Nath Kovind is to expire in July this year. Kumar had announced support of his party JD(U) to Presidential candidate of NDA in 2017 when he was heading Grand Alliance government in Bihar. Similarly, Kumar had also extended support to Congress led UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee while he was heading the NDA government in Bihar.
