Nitish Kumar to attend Left rally with Mulayam Singh; denies talk of 'Third Front'

Patna: Nitish Kumar has said he will attend a rally in Delhi on October 30, which is being seen as a gathering of parties likely to try and join forces as a 'third front' after the elections due by May.

But as he confirmed his presence in the Left Front rally, Nitish Kumar said any speculation about a 'third front' is premature.

On Monday, Nitish Kumar did not rule out a tie-up with the Congress, after his party colleague Shivanand Tiwari openly rooted for it.

Mr Kumar said he would take a call after October, referring to a party meeting later this month.

He has been seen as warming up to the Congress even before his party ended its 17-year alliance with the BJP in June over the elevation of Narendra Modi, who later became the party's Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014.

But sources say a section of the JD-U is in favour of going it alone and playing a larger role in a possible third front grouping.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Left leaders have already said they will attend the October 30 rally, which they said was a call to action against "communal forces".

Mulayam Singh had said on Monday that the next Prime Minister would be a third front candidate, as neither the Congress nor the BJP would win enough numbers to come to power.

If you fear Narendra Modi, why use President's shoulder to fire? BJP to Nitish Kumar

Patna: The BJP has launched a tweet attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of trying to sabotage Narendra Modi's rally this month by inviting President Pranab Mukherjee at the same time.

"If you fear NaMo (Narendra Modi) so much, why use Hon President's shoulder to fire? Have courage to bring your partner Rahul Gandhi to Bihar," said BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, taking a dig at Nitish Kumar's perceived bonhomie with the Congress ahead of polls due in May.

Mr Hussain said the Gujarat Chief Minister's rally on October 27 was announced way back in March. But Nitish Kumar, he alleged, was "trying to create an atmosphere of confrontation" by putting hurdles in his way.

This adds another chapter to the acrimonious break-up between the long-time allies, who ended their 17-year partnership amid sharp differences over Narendra Modi's elevation.

On Sunday, Nitish Kumar was targeted by BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi, who was his deputy until the June break-up.

"Nkumar is playing all tricks to put hurdles in success of NAMO's Hunkar Rally on 27th Oct. First permission for whole Maidan was denied. Now Nkumar has invited President of India to Patna on the same dates. He will be in Patna on 26th &27th (sic)," Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted on Sunday.

"The whole city will be barricaded for President's visit? Namo's plane will not be allowed to land till President's spl plane takes off?" he added.

Sources in the Bihar government denied the allegation, claiming that the President's schedule is decided by his office.

Yesterday, a leader from Nitish Kumar's party wrote to the Chief Minister, urging him to cancel Mr Modi's rally. "I also request you not to hesitate in arresting Modi if he dares to hold this rally in anyway," the JD(U) youth wing national general secretary Pradeep Yadav wrote.