Other States - Bihar

Nitish's exercise an eyewash, says CPI(ML)

PATNA, APRIL 8 . In a fresh dampner to JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar's efforts to install popular government in Bihar, the CPI(ML) today said as the outcome of the recent polls was not only against the RJD and UPA but also BJP and NDA, talks of non-RJD parties coming together to cobble a majority was nothing but an ``eyewash and political dishonesty'.

``The verdict is not against the RJD and UPA only, but also against the BJP and NDA and as long as the JD(U) continues its friendship with the BJP, talks of anti-RJD parties forming a majority are just an eyewash and political dishonesty,'' state CPI(ML) secretary Ramjatan Sharma said. He was responding to the April 2 letter purported to have been written by Mr. Kumar to the party seeking its support for government formation.

``The UPA is a divided house and you are also not in a position to achieve the task of government formation while being with the NDA. At the same time you (Nitish Kumar) are looking for allies for a government,'' he said adding ``it certainly underlines the pressing need for forging a third front''.

He accused Mr. Kumar of having come out in strong defense of the Narendra Modi government after the Godhra incident in Gujarat and of being `hand-in-glove' with the BJP in patronising feudal forces, mafia elements and criminals in Bihar'.

The LJP president, Ramvilas Paswan, has already poured cold water on Mr. Kumar's efforts to cobble a majority combining non-RJD parties, saying there was no relevance of such an exercise as long as the JD (U) was with the NDA. -- PTI

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