Nitish feelers may be a ploy to isolate Cong

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday held talks with leaders from Bihar but Chaudhury said the issue of prospective allies in the state or differences between the BJP and JDU was not discussed at all.

A senior Bihar Congress leader said there is apprehension about Nitishs real plans. It might be his strategy to ensure a four-cornered contest involving the Congress,the BJP,the JDU and RJD-LJP combine. An RJD-LJP-Congress combine would be a formidable challenge to JDU and therefore,the JDU is sending feelers to us. As it is,keeping us engaged in talks could be a strategy to isolate us from other parties, he said.

Meanwhile,senior Gujarat Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela described Nitish Kumar as a good friend and said he must be deciding his strategy according to political requirements in his state. But he is part and parcel of NDA, said Vaghela.