Budget 2013: Nitish Kumar praises P Chidambaram's Budget, fuels speculation of a political tie-up

Bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday heaped praise on the Union Budget, fuelling speculation on whether the remarks were a portend of a future tie-up with the Congress.

In an article for this paper Mr Kumar, whose Janata Dal (United) has governed Bihar since 2005 in an alliance with the BJP, praised Mr Chidambaram for agreeing to reconsider criteria for conferring so-called ‘special category’ on states. Bihar has long sought this status which would entitle it higher federal aid. “I am glad that Chidambaram has said that he would revisit the criteria for special status,” Kumar said in an article published in this paper.

“This is big victory for the people of Bihar. It will eventually pave the way for according special status to Bihar,” Kumar was quoted as saying by economictimes.com, this paper’s website.

He also praised Chidambaram for allocating funds to the upcoming Nalanda International University. “The importance given to rebuilding Nalanda University by the finance minister is welcome,” said Kumar, adding that the allocation of Rs 1,000 crore to the extending the gains of the green revolution to the eastern state were “commendable.”

Kumar, whose JD(U) is a key constituent of the NDA, the opposition grouping headed by the BJP, has long expressed unease at the prospect of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi becoming the BJP’s, and be extension the NDA’s, prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 general elections. Kumar said no political meaning should be read to his remarks.

But his remarks attracted attention as reactions to economic events budgets tend to be along strictly political lines. While the article in today’s edition criticises various aspects of the budget the tone is mild in comparison to the usual tenor of opposition leaders.

At a post-budget press conference Chidambaram acknowledged the unexpected praise from one of the opposition’s leading lights. “Why are you unhappy that he praised me? He has taken a non-political stand.”