In an attempt to dispel speculation about the JD(U) getting closer to the Congress, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday predicted that the UPA will not return to power in 2014 general elections and slammed it for the country's problems.
Nitish's attack on the Congress is significant against the backdrop of the Congress trying to woo the NDA partner by conceding his demand for special status to Bihar.
It is also noteworthy as Nitish had remained tight-lipped on the speculation of the Congress-JD(U) bonhomie for the past one year. Now, his vehement criticism of the Congress has come as a big blow to the UPA managers.
Nitish told the media in Patna that the electorates were completely disenchanted with the UPA Government in view of growing corruption, price rise, unemployment and economic inequality.
Taking a dig at the Congress, he commented, "Though it is an internal matter of the Congress to choose its Prime Ministerial candidate, but the Congress has first of all to emerge victorious in the election before it would get an opportunity to decide on the name of the next premier of the country."
"The people have to decide the outcome of the next general election but the JD(U) holds a firm view that the UPA Government will not return to the power," he said.
Apparently, the JD(U) has stepped up its efforts to draw the political strategy in the run up to the 2014 lok Sabha election after a certain amount of uncertainty was created when both the JD(U) and the Congress begun to warm up towards each other.
On Wednesday, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav had made it clear that his party will not have any alliance with the Congress both before and after the lok Sabha election.
Denying that the JD(U) was coming closer to the Congress, Nitish Kumar said that all steps were in the direction of ensuring special status to Bihar. "No extra meaning should be attached to it unnecessarily," he remarked.
When asked about the possibility of an early lok Sabha election, Nitish Kumar said, "We are prepared to contest the election any time."
Chief Minister said that the UPA Government might crumble down because of its own internal problems, and the responsibility of the Government's fall rests either on the Congress or its allies.