On Tuesday, July 18, the meeting between 26 Opposition parties concluded in Bengaluru, Karnataka, following which a press conference was organized by the alliance members. But JDU Chief and Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, was seen leaving early, and not attending the press conference, which fanned rumours of there being a rift in the ‘union’ of the Opposition parties, and it was being speculated that Kumar was unhappy with the acronym I.N.D.I.A for the alliance. I.N.D.I.A stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
Now, on Wednesday, July 19, Nitish Kumar has cleared the air about the speculations, and addressing the media, said that he left immediately after the meeting ended and could not attend the press conference because he wanted to go to Rajgir, Bihar, for prior commitments.
In Rajgir, Kumar said, ‘I got the opportunity to come today. Yesterday was the meeting of multiple political parties, and I left as soon as the meeting ended. People were questioning my absence from the press conference, but when every alliance member consented to all the decisions of the meeting, I came here because I wanted to be here. That is why I had left, there is no other reason.’
‘We are together for the nation, for the people of the country, for the development of every section of the society, to promote love and harmony, and for development.’, asserted the Bihar CM.