Nitish among top INDIA bloc leaders: CPI’s D Raja

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is among the “top leaders” of the INDIA bloc, CPI general secretary D Raja said on Tuesday. However, he side-stepped queries about the JD(U) president being considered for a “bigger role”.

Addressing a press conference here, Raja, who had met Kumar on Monday evening, asserted that the INDIA constituents were in favour of declaring a prime ministerial candidate “after we win the Lok Sabha elections”, recalling the similar experiment that was undertaken when the United Front government was installed in the 1990s.

Asked whether declaring Kumar the “convenor” would have been better for the coalition formed less than a year ago, the CPI leader said, “That is a perception, but I can assure you that not doing so is not going to be a hurdle in achieving cohesiveness in the alliance.” “Nitish Kumar is undoubtedly one of our top leaders in the INDIA coalition.

He is very experienced,” said Raja, who stopped short of directly engaging with queries about assigning a leading role to the longest-serving Bihar CM, the clamour for which has been growing strong in the JD(U). Asked about seat-sharing in the INDIA bloc, Raja said, “Our party (CPI) is a force to reckon with in Bihar and the rest of the country. But when we sit for negotiations, our thrust will be on striking a deal which accommodates all partners well and ensures our victory.” He claimed to have stressed the same when he met Kumar and had a telephonic conversation with Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, who belongs to RJD.