Zeenews Bureau Patna, May 15:
In what has sent alarms bells ringing in the BJP, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Friday opened up the numbers game by saying that the JD(U) would support any formation that would give special status to his state to kick start development. “We will support whichever party gives Bihar a special status. That will be the basis of our support," Nitish said at a book launch here, a day before Lok Sabha election results are to be declared. Talking at length on the development issues in the state, Nitish Kumar said the state's long standing demand to give it special status had been rejected by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Manmohan Singh, he said, was not even ready to discuss the issue. Had "Three years back, on April 13, 2006, the state Assembly decided that Bihar should be given special status and we requested a meeting with the Prime Minister. But we were not given time," the Chief Minister said. By keeping Bihar’s priorities ahead of his party’s position as one of the oldest and most trusted allies of the BJP, Nitish Kumar has now made it absolutely clear that JD(U)’s support cannot to be taken for granted and that they will go with “whoever” gives the best bargain. Congress ready for special status to Bihar The Congress was quick to take the cue with senior party strategist Digvijay Singh coming out with a statement that the Congress is OK with the idea of giving special status to Bihar. “We are sensitive to the needs of Bihar as we had given five times more money for the development of Bihar than the NDA, but Nitish to specify what he means by special status.” The Congress’ eagerness to woo the Bihar CM into the UPA fold is not something new as party’s youth icon Rahul Gandhi, had openly praised Nitish for the development work he is doing in Bihar. PM Manmohan Singh had also called up Kumar to discuss the relief package given to Bihar after the Kosi floods – after he complained that not enough was being done by the Centre for Kosi relief. But, the problem for the Congress lies in its existing ally RJD chief Lalu Yadav as it is next to impossible to bring Nitish and Lalu on a common platform given the fact that they are each other principle adversaries in the state. BJP worried Although the BJP is putting up a brave face, it undoubtedly is facing uncertain times, that too when the results are just hours away. Party president Rajnath Singh played down the comments by Nitish Kumar by saying that the Bihar CM has not asked for anything unusual and that what he has said is correct. “Nitish is a seasoned politician, he knows which party (read BJP) will give special status to Bihar,” said Rajnath. Rajnath also said that Nitish is still with the NDA and has assured his support to LK Advani as PM. Nitish too, later, said that no one should read too much into his comment as he just wanted to say that whosever rules at the Centre should impart special care to his still developing state Bihar. However, Nitish’s change of stand from his earlier expressed unwavering allegiance to the NDA opens up a lot of possibilities for the now wavering Third Front. The Third Front has been all along trying to woo the Bihar CM. There were also reports that the Left is even open to project Nitish as the "consensus" candidate for the Prime Minister's job. But Nitish has been till now preferred to keep his cards close to chest and keep everybody guessing.
Likely to win less seats than before, the Left still wants to direct Indian politics. Its living in a fool's world.
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