The Congress votes for Nitish Kumar in the confidence vote; is a new alliance brewing?

Congress' Sanjay Nirupam said Nitish Kumar had put his government at stake over the issue of secularism and the Congress would never hesitate to support such a party. Bihar government adviser Pavan Varma said it was too premature to say who Nitish would allign with at this stage. Circumstances would decide, he added. The BJD's Kalikesh Singh Deo said that he didn't see the BJD supporting the UPA or the BJP, and state leaders with a track record of good governance could form a federal front. Saugata Roy of the TMC was cautious, saying that they weren't thinking of an anti-BJP, anti-Congress front, but more like a non-BJP, non-Congress front.