Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday assured that the much-debated query of who will lead the INDIA bloc as its convenor shall be answered within the subsequent 10-15 days.

When requested concerning the rumours that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s identify was being thought of for the convenor submit, Kharge mentioned, “That question (who will be INDIA bloc’s convenor?) is like Kaun Banega Crorepati? It will be decided in the next 10-15 days when we hold a meeting. Don’t worry about it.”

Nitish Kumar stop the NDA greater than a 12 months in the past and fashioned a brand new authorities upon becoming a member of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ that features Congress, RJD and three Left events. Kumar then vowed to carry all events against the BJP collectively to tackle the Narendra Modi-led BJP juggernaut within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

He just lately took over the reins of the celebration after Rajiv Ranjan Singh, aka Lalan Singh, stepped down as JD(U) nationwide president on the nationwide govt assembly in New Delhi. Senior celebration chief Okay C Tyagi asserted that the Bihar chief minister was the “ideological convener and ideological prime minister of INDIA”, grabbing the eye of allies and adversaries alike.

Two ministers within the Bihar authorities, Madan Sahni and Ratnesh Sada, later mentioned that Kumar deserved to be the prime ministerial candidate, and never merely the convenor of the INDIA coalition.

“Our leader has made it clear that he does not desire for himself any fancy-sounding designation in the coalition. But, since a response is being sought on the buzz that he may be made the convener, I would say why not make him the prime ministerial candidate”, Sahni advised reporters.

Sahni, who holds the essential social welfare portfolio within the Nitish Kumar cupboard, additionally mentioned, “All parties seem to agree that the JD(U) president is the most experienced and capable leader in the coalition. If he is given prominence, it will galvanize voters of Bihar and may also enthuse people elsewhere, who want a credible alternative to the BJP”.

Sada, who holds the SC and ST welfare portfolio, mentioned “Nitish Kumar is a leader who has endeared himself to the socially weaker sections in Bihar and elsewhere. He got the caste census done and followed it up with a hike in reservations, demonstrating that he meant business and was not paying lip service to the downtrodden”.