(FE)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today made it clear that while he deeply respects Meira Kumar, the opposition’s candidate for President, he will not reconsider his decision to back Ram Nath Kovind, the BJP’s nominee for the country’s top post.
Mr Kumar drove up this evening to the home of political partner Lalu Yadav, who has warned him that his decision to back Mr Kovind is “a historic blunder”. The Chief Minister was a guest at Lalu Yadav’s iftar party to mark the breaking of the daily fast during Ramzan.
“I have a lot of respect for Meira Kumarji, but ‘Bihar ki beti’ has been nominated only to lose,” said Mr Kumar, who has been repeatedly reminded by his partners that Meira Kumar, a former Lok Sabha Speaker, is a leader from his state and so he should back “Bihar’s daughter.” He asked why the Congress had not picked Ms Kumar as its candidate for President when it twice had a chance to ensure its nominee would win.
