Bihar tie-up talks: Congress votes for Nitish, not Lalu

Though there is a good possibility of the RJD, the JD(U) and the Congress entering into an alliance, we are clear on choosing the development face, Nitish: Congress

Lalu Prasad, Nitish Kumar, Bihar CM, Janata Parivar, Janata Parivar merger, Janata Parivar parties, Phulwaria, Bihar politics, RJD, JD(U), Hathua assembly constituency, Indian express

Bihar Congress said it had a “bitter experience” in the Lok Sabha polls, when its ally Lalu-led RJD fielded some candidates from “Congress seats”.

With RJD chief Lalu Prasad and chief minister Nitish Kumar squabbling over seat sharing ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls, the Bihar Congress has said it would rather ally with Nitish than the “dominating” Lalu.

The party also said it had a “bitter experience” in the Lok Sabha polls, when its ally RJD fielded some candidates from “Congress seats”.

“Though there is a good possibility of the RJD, the JD(U) and the Congress entering into an alliance, we are clear on choosing the development face, Nitish, if talks between him and Lalu over seat sharing fail,” Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Kumar Choudhary said.

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“Lalu has been facing constitutional hurdles and cannot be projected as CM. The RJD does not have any credible face. This is all the more reason that Nitish should be declared the CM nominee of the alliance,” he added.

Choudhary said both the RJD and the JD(U) had been in touch with his party. Asked if the party would consider allying with the CPI in case the planned alliance fails, Choudhary said, “We have got no such vibes. But the Congress should not have any problem with this alternative alliance combination.”

Santosh Singh

Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. ... Read More