Nitish Kumar rules out alliance with BJP in future

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today ruled out any future alliance with BJP but said its MP Shatrughan Sinha was well within his right to say whatever he wants.

"An alliance with BJP in future is not possible at all," he told the assembly while replying to a debate on Bodh Gaya Temple (Amendment) Bill, 2013 proposing a non-Hindu district magistrate to head the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) which was eventually passed by voice vote.

Kumar's comment followed a barb by RJDLP leader Abdul Bari Siddique that he may re-align with BJP post general elections. "You(RJD) may join them (BJP), but it is impossible that we (JD-U) will align again with them in future under any situation," he said.

On BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha's praise of him earlier in the day that he was prime ministerial material, Kumar said everybody was 'within his rights' to say what he wants.

"What wrong he (Sinha) has done? ... He has said what feels," Kumar said.

Taking exception to the walkout staged by BJP members in protest against the Bill, Kumar said "My decision to part ways with BJP has been vindicated by the conduct of its members in the house who seek to make a mountain out of a mole hill on government decisions taken in public interest."

The people, he said, had not given mandate to the erstwhile ally to sit in opposition, but to be part of the treasury benches.

"They should have sat on the treasury benches adjacent to ours," Kumar said adding the BJP lawmakers had a right to make noise for being 'dumped' (by him), but they jumped to the other side and started playing the role of the opposition.

He charged BJP with playing out communal and divisive politics for political dividend and said the people will not be fooled by its 'sinister campaign' against the government while playing its 'new role' as the main opposition.

"BJP will once again be reduced to a small party and put in its place," he said.