Being wooed by the Congress and the Left alike, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar denied he was in talks with any party beyond the constituents of his own NDA.
Rejecting Congress and Left overtures, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Sunday that there was "no possibility" of his being in touch with non-NDA parties and asked the people to bring the BJP-led alliance to power to "avenge" the Centre's attitude towards his state.
"I have clarified on several occasions that neither I am in touch with anybody nor any party or leader (from outside NDA) has contacted me. I am saying this clearly that there is no possibility of I being in touch with anybody at all," Kumar said in Patna before his departure for Ludhiana where he joined a rally of NDA leaders.
Kumar's comments assume significance in the wake of CPI (M) leader Prakash Karat's recent remarks that talks were on with the JD(U) leadership and that "they have a significant role to play after the elections" and also Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's praise for the Bihar chief minister.
Kumar claimed that the NDA will emerge as the largest alliance. He said that other parties would also be attracted to NDA. "The NDA can get majority also. But there is a possibility of NDA plus other parties emerging as a combine."
Addressing the rally in Ludhiana, Kumar asked the migrant Bihari population in Punjab to ensure NDA's victory.
He exhorted the Biharis "to make each vote count and ensure the victory of NDA alliance in the country in order to avenge the Centre's attitude".
Earlier, when BJP leader Narendra Modi came on the stage he straight away went to Nitish Kumar, who had earlier refused to join a poll rally with the Gujarat chief minister, and greeted him. Modi caught hold of Kumar's hand and both raised their hands in a show of unity.
Kumar accused the UPA government of failing to rehabilitate and provide adequate relief to the people of Bihar during natural calamities.
"The prime minister had declared Kosi deluge as a national tragedy and since we were short on funds, my government had requested the Centre to send money for relief and rescue purpose.
"They made tall claims of sending money than requested by us. However as soon as elections in Kosi region got over recently, the Centre demanded back the money. During the time of a natural calamity when everybody helps each other, the Centre is more concerned about getting its money back," Kumar said.
"Its shameful for the country," he said. Pointing to the contribution of Bihari community to Punjab's economy, he said "the bonds between Punjabis and Biharis are so strong that they cannot be broken" and thanked Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal for the generosity shown towards Bihar during natural calamities.
Asked how much he thought the NDA would benefit from the TRS showing inclination to join the alliance, Kumar said in Patna with the existence of a strong possibility of the NDA emerging as the biggest alliance in a position to form the government, more potential allies would be attracted towards it.
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