Not in the Race for Prime Minister’s Post in 2019: Nitish Kumar

Kumar said he has served the people throughout his political career, as an MP, CM and a Union Minister.

Nitish Kumar. (Photo: Reuters)

Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar on Monday emphatically said that he was not in the race for the Prime Minister's post in 2019.

"I am being targeted unnecessarily. We are a small party.

I am not a fool... If I become the national president of my party, it does not mean that I harbour national aspiration (of becoming the PM)," Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of 'Lok Samvad' programme here.

Stating that he believed in working for the people, Kumar said he has served the people throughout his political career – be it as an MP, a Union minister, and now as the Chief Minister.

At present, the people of Bihar have given the mandate to the grand alliance and said that he was doing his work in a positive manner.

Asked whether he has the capability to lead a non-BJP alternative, Kumar said that "I neither have any aspiration nor the ability to become the PM."

The JD(U) president, who was flanked by ministers and party leaders during interaction with the media, said that it was difficult to say as to who will emerge as the PM candidate in 2019.

"It sounds weird... I am not the claimant for the Prime Minister's post in 2019 (general elections)," he said.

"The person in whom people will see potential will become the Prime Minister. People saw potential in Narendra Modi during last elections, and he became the PM," Kumar said, adding that Modi, the then Gujarat Chief Minister, was not even in the frame to become the PM five years ago.

On his party having a view divergent to his ally RJD on the sanctity of EVMs, Kumar said that there cannot be one view of all parties... Different parties can have different views on various issues.

We had a different take on demonetisation. Similarly, we are of the view that elections should be held with EVMs. But all apprehensions with regard to voting machines must be removed

Nitish Kumar 

With regard to a query that alcohol bottles seized during anti-liquor drive have been drained in the river Ganges, Kumar feigned ignorance about such incident.

“I don’t have any such information that liquor has been drained in the holy river. The seized liquor has to be destroyed. It cannot be drained in the river,” he said, adding that his government will not tolerate if any river, especially the Ganges, was polluted by any means.

On the arrest of the relative of a JD(U) youth wing office-bearer, Kumar said that the development was not any embarrassment to him or the party as he was of the view that anyone found to be violating law must be punished.

It (action against JD(U) youth wing functionary's relative) established the fact that the government machinery will act without any prejudice, howsoever high he/she may be, he said.