The INDIA bloc will meet virtually on Thursday evening around 6:30 pm to decide on crucial topics, including the selection of a new convenor for the alliance. Speculations are rife that JD(U) president Nitish Kumar could be selected for the post.
Kumar's is considered a leading contender for the post, considering it was he who took the initiative to bring all opposition parties under one umbrella. He was recently elected as the national president of the JD(U) replacing Lalan Singh.
On Wednesday, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Nitish's deputy in the Bihar cabinet, had mooted his name for the post, calling him an experienced leader. "Nitish Kumar is such a senior leader. If such a proposal comes, it will be great for Bihar," Yadav told reporters.
The Bihar Congress too has openly backed Nitish Kumar. State chief Akhilesh Prasad ingh told a press conference that his party acknowledged Nitish Kumar's stature and would not flinch from backing him if other constituents of INDIA agreed to make him the convenor.
"Nobody has any doubts about the calibre, stature, personality and political acumen of Nitish Kumar. Also, there cannot be any two views about the crucial role he played in bringing together anti-BJP parties across the country," said Singh, a Rajya Sabha member.
"The decision of making him a convenor would require a consensus. If other constituents of the INDIA bloc give their consent, rest assured that the Congress will not hesitate in throwing its weight behind such a proposal," he added.
Sources within the Congress party told The Indian Express that Congress was now inclined towards conceding the national convener position to the JD(U) to keep the Nitish happy. "At a time when Rahul Gandhi is embarking on an important yatra, we want to keep the momentum going. If Nitish Kumar crosses over to the BJP-led NDA, the effort to unite the Opposition will fizzle out. Most of the INDIA bloc members seem to share this concern. The Congress, anyway, will maintain its primacy as the leading party in the alliance by keeping the position of national president or chairperson with Kharge," The Indian Express quoted an unnamed Congress leader as saying.
Other issues that will be discussed in Thursday's meeting include a common strategy to take on the BJP for the 2024 general elections.
Seat-sharing talks are also likely to continue as Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray is expected to meet the Congress top brass in Delhi this week to discuss seat-sharing.
There are reports that Congress has already prepared a report taking into account state-wise alliances and equations. The report was submitted to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who will initiate talks with alliance partners.