The Congress on Thursday took a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s predicament about leaving NDA over elevation of Narendra Modi as Chairman of BJP’s Election Campaign Committee, but indicated that it would favour allying with JD(U) in Bihar. It has also dismissed the possibility of the emergence of a Third Front.
Asked about the possibility of Congress allying with JD(U) in Bihar, Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmad said that it was a hypothetical question as NDA allies have not yet made any decision about going separate.
He said past experience has shown that the relationship between JD(U) and BJP has been like a husband and wife with sometimes one threatening Main Mayke chali jaoongi and later they sing Hum Saath jiyenge aur Saath marenge. So till the time a JD(U) takes a final decision to dissociate with BJP, the Congress will not have any association with it. Adopting a wait and watch policy, Shakeel termed the present division in the NDA as its internal affairs.
Asked about Nitish along with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik exploring the possibility of forming the Federal front, Shakeel said that at this juncture there was no possibility or sign of a third or a fourth front emerging as TMC, JD(U), BJD and AIADMK all are State specific parties which do not have reach outside their respective States.
Shakeel also said that he did not share Nitish’s opinion that veteran BJP leader l K Advani as secular and Modi as communal and said Modi is the product of seeds of communalism planted by Advani in 1985-86.
However, sources indicated that the Congress would prefer alliance with JD(U) as RJD’S support is already assured since the latter can never go with BJP in any case. The Congress feels that
the it is the right time for JD(U) to come out of NDA’s fold if wants to maintain its secular credentials.