Nitish’s benefit

As per a media report, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is trying to bring together the Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad for the upcoming Assam polls. These efforts of Mr Kumar have long-term ramifications — securing his own nomination as the commonly acceptable prime ministerial candidate of the yet-to-be-born secular alliance during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. If he succeeds, the Congress will yet again lose an opportunity to win the coveted chair.

Arun Malankar

Mumbai