The Congress on Friday remained evasive on NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s views that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar would be a credible face of an anti-BJP alliance, and avoided commenting on it.
The Congress on Friday remained evasive on NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s views that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar would be a credible face of an anti-BJP alliance, and avoided commenting on it.
Mr Pawar wants to be a part of an anti-BJP set up and Mr Kumar would be a cementing force.
When asked about the Congress’ comments on Mr Pawar’s views, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters that today was not the occasion to speak on it.
The Congress cannot either accept of reject Mr Pawar’s views because it is currently sharing power with the JD(U)-RJD in the Nitish Kumar government. Besides, it may ally with the JD(U) in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
Although the Congress has been at the forefront in its opposition to the Modi government and the BJP-RSS, it were regional parties who had checked Mr Modi’s march after the success in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, first in the Delhi Assembly elections and later in the Bihar polls.
In Parliament, the Congress, Left and the JD(U) are working closely against the government.
The Sonia Gandhi-led party could emerge as a key player if it retains Assam for a fourth record time and check the BJP.
While the DMK has realigned with the Congress after quitting the UPA ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Sharad Pawar-led party too had fought local body elections in Maharashtra with the Congress after fighting the state Assembly polls against each other.
The DMK, the NCP, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference are seen as natural allies of the Congress, which is working with the JD(U) and the RJD. These six parties would emerge as a block against the BJP with the Left which could compel the BJD to take a clear stand on alliances. The BSP cannot function in a front as it genuinely believes in post-poll deals.
