NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India remained tight-lipped on Monday on speculation about former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar ’s likely candidature from Begusarai in Bihar for the 2019 general elections, asserting that only the national executive of the party can decide on the issue.In the midst of buzz in political circles that Kanhaiya is likely to be the consensus opposition candidate against BJP, sources in the party said a decision will be taken only after the due process. A source said while contenders for MLA seats are decided by the state units, a decision on the candidates for parliamentary seats is taken by the national executive after the state unit concerned recommends names. A senior party functionary said, “It is much too early to say whether Kanhaiya Kumar will contest from Begusarai.”The national executive of the CPI is expected to meet in mid November.Sources, however, said informal talks had already begun with Lalu Prasad’s RJD and that a broad understanding had been arrived at on accommodating CPI for the Begusarai seat.Kumar, who hails from Begusarai, is the son of a farmer while his mother works as an aanganwadi worker. At the centre of the speculation over whether he will contest, Kumar has also maintained that he will not turn down the offer if the party were to ask him to contest.