Arvind Kejriwal takes u-turn on Bihar, says fully supports Nitish Kumar

NEW DELHI: In a flip-flop, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today came out in full support of his Bihar counterpart and leader of the grand alliance Nitish Kumar in the state assembly polls, a day after ruling out backing any political party.

Calling the Bihar Chief Minister a "good person", Kejriwal said people of the state should vote for him but did not clarify whether AAP would support only the JD(U) or the entire alliece, which also comprises Lalu Prasad's RJD and Congress.

"Some media houses distorted my statement. I fully support Nitish kumar. He is a good person. People should vote him CM," Kejriwal tweeted.

Replying to a question at an event yesterday, Kejriwal had said, "I am not supporting anyone in Bihar and I have not gone their for campaigning. I had gone there (Bihar) for a workshop on governance organised by the Bihar Chief Minister before the dates for elections were announced."

The JD(U) had supported AAP during the Delhi Assembly polls and also during Kejriwal's fight against Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha polls in Varanasi.

Both Kejriwal and Kumar share good personal rapport.

The Bihar Chief Minister had strongly supported the AAP government in its confrontations with the Centre on a range of issues.

A number of AAP leaders were known to be uncomfortable supporting the grand secular alliance led by Kumar because of presence of Lalu Prasad, who has been convicted in a fodder scam case. They feel extending support to the alliance will dent its anti-corruption image.

However, the AAP chief wants to help Kumar in the crucial election, considered a major test of Modi Government's popularity since BJP's defeat in the Delhi assembly polls.