Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday made caustic comments over Rahul Gandhi's impending elevation to the Congress president's post.

"I don't know what will actually happen but I have been hearing since long that he (Rahul Gandhi) will become the president of the Congress," Nitish said. "I heard this even when we were together."

He also took dig at the Congress's first family, without mentioning the word dynasty. "Nobody else could become president in the Congress instead of him (Rahul). This is a foregone conclusion. Everything is fixed in that party," Nitish said.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the Lok Samvad (public dialogue) programme at his 1 Aney Marg residence. Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi and several members of the cabinet were present.

But Nitish did assert that the issue of Rahul becoming Congress president was "an internal matter of that party" and said his best wishes would be with Rahul if he takes the post. Asked whether Rahul would be able to successfully lead the Congress in the 2019 general poll, Nitish said: "The public will decide what will happen in 2019. How can we say about this in 2017?"

When Nitish switched over to the NDA, Rahul had slammed the chief minister and said he had information for "three-four months" about Nitish's overtures to the BJP.