National   

“Nitish trying to play both sides”

NEW DELHI: Ever since Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi made a statement on Tuesday on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s administration and the JD(U) leader’s “disenchantment” with the NDA, the Congress has been maintaining that it should not be seen as an overture but a “statesmanly observation” and, on Friday, party leader Veerappa Moily said Mr. Kumar was trying to play both sides.

“The Congress is not going to make a hero of Mr. Kumar,” he said.

The manner in which Mr. Kumar has aligned with the BJP, according to Mr. Moily, was tantamount to polluting his secular credential. “We know his limitations. As soon as he joins hands with us, his government will collapse. He knows it. To him retaining chief ministership is more important than ideology.”

Conscious that Mr. Gandhi’s statement had embittered the already strained relations with two Bihar-based UPA constituents – Rashtriya Janata Dal and Lok Jan Shakti Party – and eager to ward off criticism against the general secretary, the Congress media department had been working overtime since Wednesday to set the record straight.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Third Front is poised to form next government, says Karat
Supreme Court suggests panel to examine impact of ragging
R.K. Raghavan hails verdict
Rajender Kachroo hails ruling
Moves on for forming Ministry in Meghalaya
It’s either BJP or Congress: Advani
Developing countries more susceptible to A(H1N1): WHO
BJP questions EC probe team’s visit to Patna
Witness recounts Ajmal’s capture
Advani expresses surprise at Mulayam’s statement
Pakistani scholar says her country must be helped
Fishermen net aircraft wreckage off Beypore coast
Vindication of our stand: BJP
Of Kittus, Bittus, Bunnys and Goldys
Of major metros and poll apathy
NGOs seek action on environment
Actor’s South Chennai link
Inside Kashmir
Contempt plea against Modi deferred
Trinamool most unnatural ally for any party, says Brinda
“Nitish trying to play both sides”
Many bigwigs in the fray in Phase-V
Medical team for Sri Lanka
Best face forward The long and short of it
Gestures and expressions Women and electioneering
FAST FACT
SOUNDBITES
1.2 lakh weapons turned in
Wah, Taj!
To the spirit of service
Lalu, Paswan skip Cabinet meeting
Moves on for forming Ministry in Meghalaya
Fast track courts set up to try Godhra, riots cases

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu