JD(U)-Congress tie-up linked to special economic status to Bihar

PATNA: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) may be wary of any electoral tie-up with Congress for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls but that is likely to change should the Congress-led UPA government grant special economic status to Bihar by implementing the Raghuram Rajan committee report.

Such a gesture may convince Kumar to stitch an alliance with the Congress. “After the rout, playing ball with Congress will be like committing a political hara-kiri. Nitishji is himself convinced that forging alliance with Congress would invite self destruction.

But there could be one last hope if the Centre takes a favourable view on the Raghuram Rajan Committee report,” a political aide of Kumar told ET.

Congress’ dismal performance in 3 out of the 5 assembly elections came as a warning signal for the JD (U) leadership which was entertaining the idea of doing political business with it. Kumar himself was quite forthcoming in his reaction after declaration of the poll results. He said the mandate clearly had gone against Congress.

In private discussions Kumar has been indicating that playing ball with Congress may not be electorally beneficial for JD(U).

Though a large section of the state Congress leaders advocate an alliance with RJD, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and some senior Congress ministers including P Chidambaram would like to do tie-up with Kumar.

JD(U) sources even say that Finance Minister Chidambaram had approved the Raghuram Rajan Committee report for implementation but it was waiting approval at the PMO level.