Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar accuses UPA of indulging in 'give and take'

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today charged the Congress-led UPA with indulging in 'give and take' with its allies saying it was evident in the delay over announcement of its Presidential candidate.

"As such, the Congress-led UPA government has been a government of give and take with its allies to stay in power", Kumar told newsmen here.

Kumar was responding to a query on whether the UPA was delaying announcement of its Presidential candidate in a bid to secure the support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has been bargaining for a financial package to the cash-strapped state.

The UPA, he said, should first announce its Presidential candidate and then seek consultations with other parties for a consensus.

It would not be appropriate for him or others to air views on Presidential polls till clarity emerged on the name of the candidate, Kumar said.