The unnamed Chief Ministerial candidate of the NDA had long been the subject of contentious debate and jeers from the Grand Alliance. Being aware of the reaction, Union Home Minister and BJP’s chief strategist Amit Shah cleared the air today, confirming that Nitish Kumar will continue to occupy Bihar’s top post if the ruling alliance retains power.

“Bihar mein na CM ka pad khali hai aur Delhi mein PM ka pad khali hai… yahan Nitish Kumar hain, aur Lalu ji, Sonia ji, wahan PM Modi hain (neither the Chief Minister post in Bihar nor the Prime Minister’s seat in Delhi is vacant. Nitish Kumar is here, and Lalu ji, Sonia ji, PM Modi there),” Shah said at a public meeting in Bihar today.

He went on to take a jibe at the top leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress: “Aapka number nahin lagega,” he added.

The Grand Alliance has for a long time, been taking jibes at the NDA over its tardy progress in terms of campaigning, seat-sharing talks, and the absence of Congress’s Rahul Gandhi from ground zero.

The opposition bloc exacted their revenge by announcing their Chief Ministerial candidate earlier this week, critiquing the NDA for yet not doing so.

The Grand Alliance also moved ahead of the NDA once again yesterday by releasing its manifesto. While the NDA’s Chief Ministerial candidate had remained more a matter of speculation, there were expectations that the ruling party might opt for a fresh face.

Nitish Kumar first took the CM position in 2005. He has occupied the post since, barring a brief period when he stepped down in favor of Jitan Ram Manjhi.