Congress to welcome non-communal forces in Bihar polls

We have vowed not to allow BJP to form government in Bihar, says Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee President

Congress today requested its high command to decide whether the party should go alone or enter into alliance in the state polls, and vowed "not to allow BJP to form government in Bihar".

"After coming to power at the national level, communal forces are now trying to usurp Bihar. We have vowed not to allow BJP to form government in this land of Lord Buddha and from where Mahatma Gandhi started the Independence movement," Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) President Ashok Chaudhary said.

Stating that Congress was ready to face the forthcoming Assembly elections, Chaudhary said that the party has decided to "welcome all non-communal forces" to its fold for sincere efforts to stop the advent of communal and sectarian powers in the state.

The BPCC President was voicing the political strategy proposed at its executive committee meeting held at the party headquarters at Sadaqat Ashram here in the state capital.

Talking about whether the Congress will chart its own course in the polls or ally with other parties like JD(U), whose government it is supporting from outside, the BPCC President said the party members have diverse opinion in this regard.

"One group in the party is of the view that we should contest all seats in the state, while the other is of the opinion that we should ally with non-communal parties. We have requested the high command to take a decision in this regard as soon as possible," he said.

The party sources said that Congress believes that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led government will take adequate decisions and measures with regard to law and order, urban facilities as well as availability of water, electricity, fertiliser and seed to farmers.

AICC General Secretary and Bihar in-charge C P Joshi, AICC Secretary K L Sharma, national spokesperson Raj Babbar, MLAs, MLCs and other party functionaries also attended the executive meeting.