The Congress on Monday said that while NDA is shrinking after exit of JD(U), the UPA is forging ahead refreshed after the organisational reshuffle and even offered olive branch to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by calling for coming together of like minded secular parties.
Newly appointed general secretary Ajay Maken in his first AICC briefing asserted that developments in Bihar, where JD(U) and BJP have parted ways, will have a “long-term impact” on national politics. He said that the Congress is carefully examining the situation.
“The politics of coalition is continuing in the nation. Congress has taken care of the fact that like-minded and secular parties should work together in the country. There are no two opinions about it,” Maken said. But he evaded a direct reply on whether Congress was open to ally with JD(U). He just said that the Congress will play a very big role in Bihar in future and will cooperate with like-minded and secular parties.
“On the one hand, Congress is moving forward step-by-step under Rahul Gandhi and on the other, NDA is shrinking,” he said but rejected contention that the tussle for next lok Sabha poll is going to be Rahul versus BJP leader Narendra Modi. Taking a dig at Modi, he said before becoming a challenge for Congress, Modi has to establish himself within the party and the NDA first.
He also referred to lK Advani’s letter in which the BJP patriarch after resigning in protest against Modi’s elevation a few days back had slammed his party leaders accusing them of pursuing “personal agenda”.