In a latest development in the political scenario of the nation, the Congress has stated a desire to form an alliance with the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar, ignoring the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad’s various attempts to drive a ‘hard bargain’ in a broader coalition against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the State that has elections scheduled in October.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are scheduled to meet soon in the coming weeks for exploratory talks, according to Congress official sources. Gandhi, who always seemed to have a preference for Kumar over Prasad as an ally, is apparently in a mood to act on it this time, the sources further said. Apparently, Prasad wants the RJD and the Congress to jointly bargain with Kumar for seats, but the Congress will not fall for it, stated a party leader on the condition of anonymity. The Congress feels Prasad ‘arm-twisted’ into accepting an unfair share of seats in the elections of 2004, 2009 and 2014.
Kumar will, therefore, have to choose between the seemingly arithmetic advantage that an alliance with Prasad promises and the perceptional disadvantage that it holds.
Tags: Bihar Congress JD (U) Lalu Prasad Nitish Kumar Sonia Gandhi
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