Congress may back Nitish Kumar if RJD-JD(U) tie-up talks fail

PATNA: Congress may back the ruling Janata Dal (United) and support Nitish Kumar as chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar if RJD and JD(U) are unable to stitch up an alliance.

The party is sure that both RJD and JD (U) will seal a pre-poll tie-up for the assembly elections. But if the alliance fails, Congress is likely to go with Nitish Kumar this time, state Congress leaders told ET.

Sources in Congress said state party chief Ashok Choudhary had called on party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday to apprise him of the ground reality in Bihar.

The state Congress chief clearly suggested to Gandhi that Congress should side with Kumar if RJD-JD(U) alliance is not firmed up. The indications from the party high command suggest Congress will prefer JD(U) this time, party sources said.

Even BJP will see an opportunity on Bihar’s political turf if RJD and JD(U) are unable to formalise a prepoll tie up. While RJD chief is reluctant to project Kumar as the common CM candidate, JD(U) leadership is in no mood to yield to any conditions set by RJD. RJD has also been staking claim to about 140 seats in the House with a strength of 243, which JD(U) finds unacceptable.

“Time, of course, is running out and there is confusion among the workers,” a JD(U) functionary said, adding there may be some progress in talks later on Sunday between Prasad, Kumar and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav.

With Congress likely to side with JD(U), RJD may find itself under some pressure and may now be willing to judge things a bit differently. A section of RJD leaders, including party MP Prem Gupta and Jagtanand Singh, is opposed to an alliance.