Congress-Nitish honeymoon over
The honeymoon period of Congress and JD (U) appears to be over with leaders of both parties start shooting arrows at each other. The arrest and disqualification of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav makes the ruling JD(U) more confident than ever and made it believe that an alliance with scandal-hit-Congress party may only help it to tarnish Nitish Kumar’s clean image, who is also eyeing Prime Minister Post.
At the same time, Congress which has good terms with Lalu Prasada Yadav foresees a sympathy vote for RJD and hence sent its MP Abhijit Mukherjee (son of president Pranab Mukharji) to pay a courtesy visit to Lalu Prasada Yadav. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar also understood that the Congress is keeping the RJD very much in its loop for future political alignment.
Further union minister Jairam Ramesh’s remarks made against Nitish Kumar gave a blow to their relations. Ramesh said “The state government needs to improve its administrative capacity for utilization of the funds sent from New Delhi, before asking for more funds or special status for the state.” Hence, it is like beginning of ending of their relationship.
So, JDU gave its consent to attend ‘Chitan Shivir’ to be held at Rajgir between October 28-29,” where non-Congress and non-BJP parties will meet to chalk-out a plan for forming 3rd Front. The representatives of JD(U), CPI, CPI(M), AIADMK, SP, BSP, BJD (Odisha CM Navin Patnaik’s party) and Nagaland People’s Front will participate in these two day convention. However, there was difference of opinion over inviting TDP and YSR Congress parties to these crucial meetings, since TDP is moving towards BJP and YSRCP towards Congress party.
If, these parties could give an outline for Third Front, then it will be official about snapping of relations between Congress and JD(U).