CM Leaves for Delhi; Denies Rift with BJP
Patna: January 21, 2008
Amidst rumors of George Fernandes to be replaced as the NDA convener for his recent anti-NDA ramblings, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday left for New Delhi to participate in an NDA meet to be held on Tuesday.
While denying knowledge of any report on the fate of veteran socialist leader, Kumar also shrugged off news of any discord within the NDA fold over the projection of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister of India Lal Krishna Advani as the Prime Ministerial candidate in the next general elections.
"BJP is the largest party within the NDA constituent and Advani is one of the most senior leaders in the NDA. He has also been nominated by none other than the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and to say that there is a sense of dissatisfaction over Advani's name is just not true," the Chief Minister said before leaving for the nation's capital.
Kumar also downplayed the nomination of Vajpayee for the Bharat Ratn award saying there was nothing wrong in each party nominating its own candidate. "Janata Dal – U nominated late Chief Minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur even before this issue became so controversial. I personally have no problem if Bharat Ratn award was given to all of these outstanding citizens of India," he said.
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