The Congress today hastened the pace in clearing the logjam between JD(U) and RJD, the two parties which seem to be indulging in shadow-boxing instead of firming up a tie-up ahead of the crucial Bihar poll.
Bihar Congress chief Ashok Choudhary met party President Sonia Gandhi in Delhi and spoke highly about Nitish Kumar.
Choudhary said in Delhi that his party wanted that all like-minded parties come on one platform to defeat the BJP in Bihar.
He, however, said that along with strengthening secular forces his party also wished to make itself strong in the state.
"We have conveyed our position to the JD(U) leadership as well as that of the RJD that we want the secular alliance to be strong but at the same time the Congress also becomes strong," Choudhary, who had met party vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, said.
The PCC chief conveyed clear preference for Nitish Kumar as chief ministerial candidate of the alliance, a subject on which RJD has been showing reluctance.
"Lalu Prasad because of the constitutional issue cannot be a candidate for the CM's post. Nitish Kumar has ushered in development in Bihar and proved himself a good chief minister. His becoming CM again of the alliance will definitely help," Choudhary said.
Congress praise word for Nitish Kumar nudged RJD President Lalu Prasad into action.
Lalu Prasad said it was time to decide the alliance.
"I telephoned Nitish Kumar one week ago and said days were passing and that we should now sit together quickly and decide about alliance, elections, seats and other such issues. Various kinds of talks doing the round in the market about us are making the environment unpleasant," Prasad told reporters.
Kumar, he said, could not come as he was recuperating from an eye ailment but the Janata Dal (United) National President, Sharad Yadav, met him at his residence to talk about the issues.
"I am now saying we should hurry up over the mega-alliance. JD(U) should talk to Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also about their demands and wishes. If you want merger between RJD and JD(U), then I am ready. Let us sit together today itself and finalise it," he said.
