'KCR, Nitish should save their CM seats first': BJP's Sushil Modi on Opposition leaders' prime ministerial ambitions

New Delhi: Day after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao met his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar as part of their efforts to forge Opposition unity, BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi on Thursday said that both the leaders should first think of saving their own seats rather than dreaming of becoming prime minister.

“These people are dreaming in the day. KCR should better save his own CM seat in Telangana in 2023 polls. Neither KCR nor Nitish Kumar will be the chief ministers (of their respective states) by 2024. Those whose own seats aren’t safe are dreaming about becoming PM,” said Modi.

These people are dreaming in the day. KCR should better save his own CM seat in Telangana in 2023 polls. Neither KCR nor Nitish Kumar will be the CM (of their respective states) by 2024. Those whose own seats aren’t safe are dreaming about becoming PM: BJP RS MP Sushil Modi pic.twitter.com/p7V93uDCNj

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2022

Modi said, in the past, the Telangana chief minister didn’t even accept Kumar as the prime ministerial candidate.

“KCR didn’t even accept Nitish Kumar as a PM candidate and outrightly denied it. Nitish Kumar tried to walk out of a presser when they (Nitish Kumar & KCR) were asked about it though KCR tried to make him sit many times,” said the BJP leader.

Patna, Bihar | KCR didn’t even accept Nitish Kumar as a PM candidate & outrightly denied it. Nitish Kumar tried to walk out of a presser when they (Nitish Kumar & KCR) were asked about it though KCR tried to make him sit many times: BJP RS MP Sushil Modi pic.twitter.com/d4Xb1EBLo9

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2022

On Wednesday, KCR, with Nitish by his side, called for a BJP mukt Bharat, blaming the saffron party’s government at the Centre for the many ills plaguing the country.

At a press conference he addressed in the presence of Kumar, whom he fondly called “bade bhai” (big brother), Rao skirted questions about who will lead a united opposition and whether the Congress will be taken on board.

Rao is one of the most vocal satraps opposed to the BJP.

“These things will be decided in due course. We are in no hurry,” said Rao, in reply to questions about the prime ministerial candidate and the role of the Congress, to which his Telangana Rashtra Samiti is bitterly opposed.

He blamed the Narendra Modi government for capital drain, a term he coined rhyming ‘brain drain’ to underscore that businesses were withdrawing their money from the country because of the Centre’s policies.

Rao also flayed the Modi government for having brought in the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces without consulting any of the opposition parties.

The TRS chief, who is popularly known as KCR, also slammed the Centre for going on a privatisation spree and showing indifference towards states’ concerns, citing the example of “turning down” Bihar’s demand for special category status.

KCR also ridiculed Modi for having uttered ‘Ab ki baar Trump sarkaar’ during a visit to the US many years ago, calling it a diplomatic blunder.

To a pointed query about whether the Bihar CM, who dumped the BJP earlier this month, could be considered as the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition, KCR evaded a direct reply but said Kumar is among the senior-most and best leaders in the country.

“We will decide these things later,” he said.

With inputs from agencies

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