Nitish Kumar takes Left for state poll alliance, keeps Congress guessing on 2014

Patna: Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United or JD-U has decided to tie-up with Left parties for the upcoming state polls, indicating that the Bihar Chief Minister is keeping his options open despite warming up to the Congress.

JD-U leaders decided in a meeting on Monday that the party would contest the December assembly polls in Congress-ruled Rajasthan as part of a grouping that includes the CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party and Janta Dal (Secular).

Nitish Kumar's party will also fight the November election in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh under the banner of the grouping, which calls itself the 'Samyukta Morcha'.

The decision comes days before a national meeting of non-Congress, non-BJP parties on October 30, which is being seen as an attempt to revive the failed Third Front for 2014. (read)

But sources close to the Bihar Chief Minister clarified this tie-up with the Left does not have a bearing on any larger decision on alliances for the national election due by May. They say the party will finalise its Lok Sabha poll strategy later.

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The ruling Congress at the Centre has been courting Mr Kumar since the JD-U ended a 17-year alliance with the BJP in June refusing to accept Narendra Modi's elevation as the party's key face.

But their dalliance has so far played out around Nitish Kumar's long-standing demand for special status for Bihar, which would entitle the state to more funds.

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Recently, Mr Kumar welcomed Finance Minister P Chidambaram's announcement of a special package for states that have been listed among India's least developed, which included Bihar. (read)

Bihar, with its 40 Lok Sabha seats, is one of India's most politically crucial states and can tip the balance in favour of the party that wins big here.

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The Congress, with its long-time ally Lalu Yadav in jail over corruption charges and barred from elections for a few years, sees his rival Nitish Kumar as its best bet for Bihar.