Nothing to worry about so far: Nitish on Janata merger

Patna, May 25: With RJD President Lalu Prasad insisting on roping in Jitan Ram Manjhi in the proposed Janata Parivar alliance, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday sought to allay fears of any derailment in the merger process, saying there was nothing to worry about.

In reply to a question of mediapersons that "sur" (tune) of Lalu Prasad has changed (on merger), Kumar denied "(any) widening of distance within Janata Parivar."

"Koi Sur nahi badla hai...mere sur me koi badlao nahi hua hain...Sur me badlao dono taraf se hota hain (there is no changing of tune...have you seen any change in my tune ...change in tune takes place from both sides which is not the case here)," Kumar told reporters.

"Things remain where it was and there is nothing so far which can be said worrying," Kumar, who is playing an important role in unification of six parties into Janata Parivar, said.

Kumar had returned to Patna on Saturday night but without any good news on merger front ahead of crucial Bihar assembly polls.

Apparently angry over Lalu Prasad's insistence on including ousted Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in the anti-BJP alliance, Kumar had kept away from crucial merger meeting at Mulayam Singh Yadav's home on Friday last.

He, however, met chief of "merged" Janata Parivar Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday and raised objections to RJD chief rooting for Manjhi, who has emerged as Kumar's detractor now, in their alliance.

Joined by party President Sharad Yadav, Kumar had made it clear that Prasad's statement did no good to the prospects of their alliance for the Assembly elections due in September-October this year.

Earlier today, Bihar Congress President Ashok Choudhary had a meeting with the CM in his Secretariat chamber.

Emerging from the meeting, both PCC chief and the CM claimed they talked about Bihta incidents in which two farmers have taken their lives because of financial distress.

The state Congress President had visited Bihta yesterday and met kin of two deceased families.

Choudhary said Congress central leadership would take a call on tie-up with secular parties in Bihar poll and election to 24 seats of Legislative Council in mid-July.

PTI