BIHAR Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has claimed that he is not looking to be Prime Minister but his efforts to unite the opposition is only to “work for the interest of the country”. His comments came right after his meeting with Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh’s capital - Lucknow - on Monday.
CM Nitish Kumar and Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav have met several prominent opposition leaders in the last few weeks as part of their attempts to form a united front of anti-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Earlier on Monday, CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav had also met West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee.
Also Watch:
“When everyone is united, then we will sit and decide who should be the leader. One thing I want to make clear is that I do not want to become the Prime Minister. I will work in the interest of the country,” Nitish Kumar said during a press conference held at Samajwadi Party’s office in Lucknow.
Recommended For You
ALSO READ: BJP Takes Jibe Over Oppn Unity, Targets Lack Of Leadership, Policies For 2024 Lok Sabha Election
The meeting between the Chief of Uttar Pradesh’s principal opposition party and the leaders of two of Bihar’s most important regional parties was held behind close doors. After the meeting CM Kumar also made it clear that the question of leadership of an united front against BJP will only be decided after such unity actually materialises.
With the intention of removing Bharatiya Janata Party from the Centre, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav also made his support for CM Kumar’s efforts clear.
“BJP is continuously trying to finish democratic values of the country. We all are here with people of India to save country from unemployment, inflation & poverty. We want BJP govt to exit so that country can be saved,” the former Uttar Pradesh CM said, according to ANI. During the press conference, the Samajwadi Party Chief also slammed the BJP for trying to change the history of India but to do that they must know about it first. He also said that instead of doing any work, the ruling party at the Centre is just publicising.
In the last few weeks, CM Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal Chairperson Tejashwi Yadav have visited several top leaders of the opposition camp like Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on April 12. On Monday, before meeting Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, the two leaders from Bihar had met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
“We will go ahead together. We have no personal ego, we want to work together collectively,” CM Mamata Banerjee had said during a press held conference after the meeting. “I want BJP to become zero. They have become a big hero with the media's support and lies,” she had also said.
(With agency inputs)