Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) leader and chief minister of Bihar, has extended his support to BJP’s presidential candidate, Ram Nath Kovind. In his statement on Monday, Nitish Kumar had expressed his happiness over NDA choosing the governor of Bihar as their candidate. Along with expressing the happiness, he had also mentioned that it’d be a pride for Bihar as the governor house will be sending the next Indian President.
On Wednesday, the core committee meeting of JD(U) took place at his residence and it was confirmed that the party is going to support BJP’s candidate in the presidential elections, due on July 17 this year. With this move, the opposition has gone on back-foot, because it will be practically impossible for them to give a touch competition to NDA candidate. NDA already has a majority government in the centre and has key states within its power.
Nitish Kumar’s decision also comes at an important time, when Congress is planning to lead the opposition against NDA in the next general elections. Time and time again, Nitish Kumar has shown that he can take his own decisions and not be a mute member of a bigger coalition. The same took place when JD(U) had decided to leave the NDA coalition back in 2012-13.
With JD(U) supporting Ram Nath Kovind, it is fairly easy for BJP to get its candidate elected.