We are ready for mid-term elections, says Nitish

Within hours after Manmohan Singh made it clear that he commanded a majority in the Lok Sabha and, therefore, there was “no threat to the UPA government,” Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar struck a discordant note and said his party, the Janata Dal (United), was ready for mid-term elections.

“The Congress party, of late, has been weakened at the Centre. How long will it survive depends on the support extended by the numerous allies. But in any case, we are always ready for elections,  whether they are held on time or there is a mid-term poll,” said Nitish, after returning from New Delhi on Monday.

In the same breath he added that he was very much a part and parcel of NDA and won’t discard the BJP-led alliance. He was reacting to the reports in a section of media that the JD (U) was trying to give Third Front a formal shape. “People keep talking about revival of the Third Front. But I am not sure how and when it will happen. As of now, it has not taken any concrete shape.  All I know is that my party is an integral part of the National Democratic Alliance,” the JD (U) strongman clarified.

Nitish’s remarks assumes significance as there were reports that post-Assembly results, there was a possibility of loose alliance between regional satraps like Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, Nitish Kumar, Jayalalitha and Prakash Singh Badal. It all started when these chief ministers joined hands to vociferously oppose the National Counter Terrorism Centre .   

The talks of revival of Third Front got a further boost when shortly after the Assembly results of five States were known, Nitish sent a terse message to both the Congress and the BJP. “National parties can succeed only if they forge viable coalitions. And these coalitions will have to respect regional aspirations and demands of the State Governments,” averred Nitish, while asserting the growing importance of coalitions.