Patna, June 18: Amid division in NDA over opposing UPA Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said he favoured a consensus on the issue of candidature for which efforts were on within the Opposition alliance.
Kumar, however, refrained from clearly spelling out whether his party, JD-U will support a contest against Mukherjee, saying it will not be approporiate for any constituent of the alliance to make public its separate viewpoint when discussion were on within the joint forum of NDA.
“There has been free and fair discussion (in the NDA meeting). We are in favour of consensus (on the President poll) but how will there be a consenus on the issue unless NDA itself comes up with a consensus. Efforts are on to build a consensus and, hence, consultations are continuing in NDA,” he told reporters here.
“Talks are going on. More discussions will follow. A churning of views is going on in NDA. As long as a decision is not taken, it is not appropriate for the allies to give their viewpoints outside,” he said when asked whether JD-U will support an NDA contest against Mukherjee's candidature.
Noting that it is “well-known as to who has what numbers in the electoral college” for President's election, Kumar said that NDA is discussing the issue taking into account all these facts.
Accepting that he has a “good relationship” withMukherjee, Kumar said, “My relations with P A Sangma (who is also in the fray) is not bad. In politics, one shares good relations with all.”
JD-U sources have said that the party is not in favour of NDA contesting against Mukherjee as the Opposition alliance does not have the numbers to ensure its nominee's win (More)
