Congress to go with 'reliable friend' RJD in Bihar

Despite some hiccups, an alliance between Congress and RJD for the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar appears on the cards and a decision is likely to be announced in a day or two.      

An indication to this effect was given by a senior Congress leader, who declined to be identified.      

Congress will go with a reliable friend and not anyone who is not tested, was the refrain of the leader who said that after some give and take, the alliance will be clinched sooner than later.      

He suggested that the Congress' talks with JD-U did not progress after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar put a pre-condition that the state should be given a special category status, an issue which is like opening a pandora's box.    

The AICC briefing saw party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi dismissing suggestions that RJD chief Lalu Prasad had given any time limit for Congress to accept his offer of 11 seats. Bihar has a total of 40 seats and RJD has remained the dominant partner in the tie-ups with Congress.      

"We are moving in the direction of what is proper and most effective for both Congress and RJD", said Singhvi who slammed Ram Vilas Paswan of the LJP for joining hands with BJP after having opposed Narendra Modi.  

Taking a dig at the BJP over the tie-up with Paswan, Singhvi said that in the process of enlarging the NDA, the opposition party could accentuate the divide within as several state leaders are opposed to the LJP's entry.

"I will not comment unless something concrete emerges on the issue," he said downplaying talk of a possible Congress-JD-U tie up.  

Regarding JD-U's pet demand for special category status for Bihar, he said that this is not a new demand and it is not only from Bihar but also from some other states.    

He said that the relevant Ministry will decide the issue "in accordance with established rules and procedures, which cannot be subverted for state A or B".      

"It is a technical matter which has to be decided by the Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission and the party has no comment on the issue", he said.      

Congress had fought the 2004 Lok Sabha election in alliance with RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP and they had won 29 of the 40 Parliamentary seats.      

In 2009, Congress fought alone as its alliance for Lok Sabha polls broke with RJD and LJP. While Paswan has aligned with BJP this time, RJD has asked Congress to decide on its offer of contesting 11 Lok Sabha seats. Lalu has assured Gandhi if Congress accepts the offer, he would deliver results in Bihar and Jharkhand.