Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, on January 13, emerged as the consensual candidate for the post of chairperson of the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc. The members of the bloc also held a discussion for selecting the candidate for the convenor post.
The issue of chairperson and convener was first broached by CPI(M) General secretary Sitaram Yechury. JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren suggested Rahul Gandhi’s name but Mr. Gandhi declined citing his upcoming Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. He said that Mr. Kharge was the Congress’ president and was the more experienced leader.
Congress noted that if their party leader is the chairperson, a non-Congress leader should be the convenor. Opposition sources said that Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal(U) chief Nitish Kumar’s name was discussed as the convener of the group. “There was unanimity on his name as well. However, it was suggested that since Trinamool chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav were not present, they would also be informed and consulted,” sources told The Hindu.
While Mr. Kumar was silent, his party colleague Rajeev Ranjan Singh Lalan said that the Bihar Chief Minister had never asked anything for himself. Mr. Kumar has neither accepted nor declined the offer.
