Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh confirmed on Wednesday that Nitish Kumar remains the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for Chief Minister in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters, the Union Minister firmly dismissed any suggestion of internal differences among NDA partners over the seat-sharing arrangement, stating that talks were underway and a final formula would be swiftly agreed upon. "Nitish Kumar is NDA's face for the Chief Ministerial post in the coming assembly polls. Everything is fine within the NDA… seat-sharing arrangements for assembly polls are underway and the final formula would be finalised soon," Singh asserted.
Singh took a swipe at the rival INDIA bloc (Mahagathbandhan), claiming the opposition alliance was a "divided" house. He alleged that RJD supremo Lalu Yadav was now "worried and frightened" following the Congress party's recent statement, which clarified that Tejashwi Yadav would be the Chief Ministerial face only for the Rashtriya Janata Dal, not the wider Mahagathbandhan.
"The leadership of Mahagathbandhan has not yet been decided," Singh said, concluding that the NDA's "policy, leadership, and intent are all set and there is no resentment at all."
Meanwhile, former Bihar Minister Murari Prasad Gautam on Wednesday resigned as MLA ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
Speculations are rife that he may join the BJP.
According to a notification issued by the Bihar Assembly secretariat, "The reserved Chenari assembly seat (in Rohtas district) has fallen on account of Gautam tendering his resignation".
"There is no specific reason behind my resignation from the membership of the assembly. I just resigned," Gautam told the media. He was elected to the assembly on Congress ticket.
Assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the counting of votes taking place on November 14.
Also read: All set for ‘sound and fury’ in Bihar, signifying ‘everything’
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