Bihar polls: Nitish's JD(U) gets AAP's 'big boost'

Lending support to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's bid to retain power, Aam Aadmi Party has decided not to field its candidate in the poll-bound state and Kumar, in turn, today promised JD(U)'s support to its demand for full statehood for Delhi.
Kumar after meeting his Delhi counterpart and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said people in Delhi had voted for him and he should be given the power to run the affairs of the national capital.
JD(U) with like-minded parties will help AAP in Parliament to raise its demand for full statehood, he said.
The party spokesperson K C Tyagi said AAP will not put up its candidate in the Bihar poll and called it a "big boost" to efforts of his party, which is already in alliance with RJD and Congress, to unite "secular votes".

Kumar told reporters that Delhi should get full statehood status. "They (people) think that from law and order to crime and police all come under government's control," Kumar said adding that since the government is accountable to people, Kejriwal should have the power to choose departmental secretaries.
"Which officers will be secretary of which department and if government doesn't have power to do the same...Government is accountable towards people. The campaign being run to give full statehood status to Delhi has overwhelming support of people," Kumar said after his meeting with Kejriwal at the Delhi Secreteriat.

The Bihar Chief Minister said his party will raise the issue in the Parliament and try to garner support of other parties.

"Our leaders will coordinate with other party leaders and raise the issue in the Parliament to give full statehood status for Delhi."
Kejriwal also thanked Kumar for allowing Bihar Police personnel to join the Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The meeting between the two leaders assumes significance ahead of the Bihar polls as both are known to be bete-noire of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The AAP government in Delhi is at loggerheads with the Centre. Amid escalating tension and the turf war between the two, the AAP has decided to give "tactical" support to Kumar by campaign against the BJP and not fielding its candidates.

A senior AAP leader, requesting anonymity, said the party will campaign against the BJP and, if need arises, Arvind Kejriwal may also plunge into the battle.
On being asked whether he has invited Kejriwal to campaign during Bihar elections, Kumar said "let the time of poll comes first".