“Tensions rise as Nitish Kumar rejects ‘India’ as opposition alliance name”
PATNA: In a surprising turn of events, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returned to Patna visibly angry after the conclusion of a two-day opposition meeting in Bengaluru. The meeting aimed to solidify the alliance of various opposition parties and unveil its official name, which was announced as ‘India’ by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. However, Nitish Kumar’s dissatisfaction with the chosen name has caused a political uproar, leaving many questioning the unity of the opposition front.
Following the meeting, a joint press conference was held, during which Mallikarjun Kharge expressed gratitude to all the leaders in attendance. Notably absent from the conference were prominent leaders from Bihar, catching the attention of both the general public and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Bihar.
According to reports from news agency ANI, Nitish Kumar was reportedly unhappy with the name ‘India’ and had suggested an alternative name related to the country. The absence of Nitish Kumar from the press conference further fueled speculations about his displeasure.
Nitish Kumar hesitant on opposition alliance to be named 'INDIA': Sources
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) July 19, 2023
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/7WgQrHp2Lc#NitishKumar #INDIA #BengaluruOppositionMeet pic.twitter.com/AChTdzAXMF
Reacting to the situation, BJP MP from Bihar, Giriraj Singh, took to Twitter, stating, “If you had not compromised your own dignity, at least you should have considered Bihar’s honor.” The visibly upset Nitish Kumar returned to Patna, distancing himself from the media.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi, also shared his thoughts on the matter through a tweet. He claimed that Nitish Kumar felt insulted in Bengaluru, alleging that he left the meeting early due to his displeasure at not being appointed as the convenor of the opposition alliance. Sushil Modi further mentioned the presence of anti-Nitish posters in Bengaluru, pointing out the irony of their existence in a Congress-governed state.
Highlighting Nitish Kumar’s pattern of discontent, Sushil Modi tweeted, “Just as they left the Patna meeting in anger, they returned to Delhi in the same manner. Those who cannot make up their minds or decide on a face before elections will not pose any challenge to the popular Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Reports suggest that Nitish Kumar had proposed a name related to ‘Bharat’ (India) for the opposition alliance. However, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge announced a different name during the press conference, suggesting the alliance be called the ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (India)’. Although this proposal received unanimous support from other leaders, Nitish Kumar’s discontent became apparent as he chose not to attend the press conference and left directly for Patna.
Notably, Nitish Kumar has not shared any tweets or public statements following the Bengaluru meeting. However, the official handle of the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) tweeted the new name of the opposition unity as “India.”
The announcement of the name ‘India’ triggered a strong reaction from JDU, as the party’s tweet read, “As soon as the name of the opposition alliance was announced, the BJP leaders, in their rage, forgot about the federal structure of the country.”
The dissatisfaction expressed by Nitish Kumar has raised concerns about the unity and cohesion within the opposition camp as they prepare to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming elections. Only time will tell how this disagreement over the alliance’s name will impact their collective efforts to dethrone the ruling party.