Kharge's name raised as PM face as parties push for quick seat pact

KEJRIWAL ALSO BACKED THE IDEA AT THE ALLIANCE'S MEETING BUT IT REPORTEDLY UPSET NITISH KUMAR AND LALU PRASAD YADAV

- Saubhadra Chatterji

The fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties saw high drama with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee proposing that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge be the grouping's PM candidate, backing for this from some quarters and silent disagreement from others, a possible deadline for seat-sharing talks and a formula for them, and a plan to spread the message of the alliance to the people.

Banerjee's decision to name Kharge came as a surprise to many, including most of the leaders at the meeting. Only a day earlier at an interaction in Delhi, in response to a question on whether the alliance was willing to buy into the disruptive idea of Kharge, a Dalit prime ministerial candidate, she had suggested it was premature to discuss leadership although it is likely she discussed it with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, with whom she had a separate meeting on Monday. Kejriwal supported her idea at the alliance's meeting, as did Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, but there are reports that naming of Kharge may have upset Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. Kharge himself suggested that the priority is to not decide on leadership but win the elections.

Banerjee also proposed that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contest the elections against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi, people aware of the matter said.