Nitish predicts hung Lok Sabha

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar, on Monday, predicted a hung Lok Sabha as neither any party nor any alliance is likely to get a majority in the next general elections. About the emergence of third front, Nitish said it is yet to take shape. "But there are many parties which have nothing to do with either the Congress or the BJP," he said.

"Where is the talk of third front formation?" asked Nitish, who had attended a non-Congress, non-BJP convention of political parties on anti-communalism in New Delhi late last month. He also ruled out the possibility of his projection as a possible PM candidate of those parties.

The CM told media people that he was not interested in reacting to any remarks by BJP leaders against him and said he reacted to only those statements which were factually wrong. He also avoided the topic whether a tea vendor should become a prime minister or not, and said there was no such debate anywhere or, at least, he has not heard about it.

However, Nitish defended his party's leaders' statement against BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi. "Why should be brouhaha over their statements when the BJP leaders are speaking against him almost every day," he said. In this context, he referred without mentioning the name of his former colleague and BJP leader Giriraj Singh, who accused Nitish of harbouring with terrorists who planted bombs at Gandhi Maidan before BJP's Hoonkar Rally on October 27.

"They speak against me but when my people say anything they feel hurt. They even hate my smile," Nitish said, and added that he personally dislikes making comments on everything. However, on the rumour about scarcity of salt in Bihar a few days back, he said some BJP leaders were found tweeting irritatingly.

"Some forces believe in getting political advantage by spreading rumour. Their purpose is to create panic and disorder and trouble the people," the CM said, adding that some people were in the habit of living in a fool's paradise and believe in creating false aura about someone's popularity. Asked who spread the rumours about salt scarcity, Nitish said, "This is a matter of research."

TOI Patna

*****************