PATNA, Oct. 8 -- Less than a month after holding the centre-stage at party's orientation programme, health minister Nishant Kumar on Wednesday joined the second leg of JD(U)'s 'Nitish Samvad' on Farakka treaty at Hajipur in an indication of his growing interest and understanding of political matters. In his address, Nishant spoke on the ill-effects of the treat for Bihar by way of heavy siltation in the river Ganga and the need to protect the state's interests when the treaty reaches its expiry date in December for renewal. "The message should be clear the treaty is not in the interest of the state, as it affects the river flow, water availability and flood vulnerability. Bihar's irrigation, drinking water needs and environmental concerns must be given top priority, as it will have direct ramifications to state's future generations," he added to take the line of his father and party president Nitish Kumar. Nishant was also there at the nomination filing of NDA candidates Neeraj Kumar from the Graduates' constituency and Naval Kishore from the Teachers' constituency on Tuesday to show his growing participation in political activities of the party and emerge as a undisputed face of the JD(U) like Nitish Kumar. "This is a clear indication that the JD(U) leadership wants Nishant to be battle ready for the party and fast, as the future of the party would depend on him after Nitish Kumar. Nishant also seems to have responded well despite having a non-political future," said social activist NK Choudhary. Slogans calling for Nishant as the state's next chief ministerial candidate of the JD(U) were raised at the party office earliest this month to highlight how much the party needs him and the senior leaders have been batting for a bigger role to him. With the Farakka Water Treaty set to expire in December 2026 and JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha getting positive response from external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar, the party has stepped up the demand through "Nitish Discourse", the second leg of which would conclude on Friday....