The Hindu : National : Nitish Kumar projects Vajpayee as prime ministerial candidate

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Wednesday, Dec 27, 2006
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Nitish Kumar projects Vajpayee as prime ministerial candidate

Special Correspondent

But distances himself from the Bharatiya Janata Party's Hindutva agenda

A. B. Vajpayee

PATNA: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday was steadfast in projecting former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the NDA's next prime ministerial candidate but was quick enough to distance himself from the BJP's refurbished Hindutva agenda. Greeting Mr. Vajpayee on his birthday, Mr. Kumar stressed that he was the undisputed leader of the NDA and would continue to lead the combine in the next parliamentary election. The senior JD (U) leader was firm in his assertion that there was no vacancy for the top job evading questions about the BJP chief Rajnath Singh and the former president L.K. Advani eyeing for the stewardship of the NDA.

He added that a decision would be taken collectively in the matter should a vacancy arise.

Temple issue

As regards the BJP's renewed effort to prop up the Ayodhya Ram temple among other issues dear to it, the Chief Minister categorically stated that they were on the BJP's agenda and not that of the NDA. He made it clear that the NDA was formed on the basis of certain policies and programmes common to all the constituents.

These alone would be pursued in the manifesto and implemented should the NDA come to power again at the Centre.

Mr. Kumar, however, said that his party would support the UPA Government should it endeavour to grant reservations to educationally and socially backward Dalit Muslims and Christians.

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