Nitish Kumar makes pitch for third fornt

Tells reporters, Delhi results show, if people have a non-Congress, non-BJP option they will vote for it

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today cited the Delhi verdict to make a pitch for a non-Congress, non-Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) third political alternative.   

 

"There is no doubt that it's a clear mandate against Congress. However, there is no wave in favour of BJP, either. Delhi is the test case for it. People are seeking other options also. Delhi results show that if people have a non-Congress, non-BJP option they will vote for it," Kumar told reporters in the State Legislative Assembly premises.

 

When asked about if the JD (U) still looking for collation partners and if he was in talks with leaders from Third Front in this regard, Kumar denied. "I am only in touch with the janata (people) and nobody else," he said. In reply to another question if his expectation from Congress for special status for Bihar was over, Kumar said, "We gave them (Congress) ample time and as per our prior decision have gone to the public to provide us support to win special status."

 

Kumar also rubbished Modi-factor for BJP's victory in three states and said the BJP threw up a "below par" performance in Delhi when they should have easily gained two-third majority in the event of Congress' rout. "The writing is clear on the wall for BJP too... It will get a deep shock in 2014 Parliamentary elections as the Delhi assembly election result indicates," the Chief Minister said.

 

Kumar said wherever there will be an alternative other than BJP it will gain from anti-Congress mood in place of BJP. Since there was no other alternative to Congress other than BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh it won. But in Delhi, where AAP was a third option, BJP failed to form the government despite the "profound anti-Congress environment". Delhi will write its (BJP's) epitaph in the days to come," Kumar said.

 

Congratulating AAP, he said "it reaped the benefit of anti-corruption agitation of Gandhian Anna Hazare."

 

Asked if the results would have its echo in Bihar in 2014 general election, the Chief Minister said, "Congress is no factor in Bihar, hence there will be no impact here and BJP has no reason to feel cheerful."