Congress supports Nitish's call for 'Sangh-mukt Bharat'

But unwilling to yield national space to the Bihar leader

While the Congress has responded positively to Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal United president Nitish Kumar’s call for a ‘Sangh-mukt Bharat’, it has blunted the Bihar politician’s prime ministerial ambitions saying the alliance would be of a ‘regional’ nature.

The Congress is currently in alliance with the JD(U) and Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar.

Kumar, who recently replaced Sharad Yadav as JD(U) chief, has not tried to hide his prime ministerial ambitions. His party has also been trying to increase its national footprint. It is reportedly set to merge with Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal in Uttar Pradesh with JD(U), which will give it presence in that state.

However, the Congress has sought to categorically scotch the speculation that it would help Kumar stitch an umbrella alliance of secular parties at the Centre, like it did in Bihar.  Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said while his party and the Bihar chief minister shared “very good relations”, the Congress’ policy is to forge regional alliance with parties at state level.  The message was clear: Kumar should limit his ambitions to the chief ministerial post.

“Who knows by the time we come to 2019, the public themselves might throw out the Bharatiya Janata Party (and there won’t be any need of forming any secular alliance),” Ahmed added.

Political observers have taken note of Kumar’s call to secular political parties to come together to keep out Narendra Modi in 2019. Speaking at a public gathering on Saturday, Kumar had said, “Sangh-mukt Bharat banane ke liye sabhi gair BJP parties ko ek hona hoga (To usher in a Sangh-free India, all non-BJP parties have to come together).”

Kumar’s was a counter-offensive to Modi’s call for a 'Congress-mukt Bharat', but the Congress can’t accept him as the face of larger national alliance against Modi as it would undermine Congress scion Rahul Gandhi’s role in 2019, say party insiders.

However, some leaders such as Digvijaya Singh have welcomed Kumar’s call. “We want this country to be secular… We are very happy that Nitish Kumar, who has sort of worked with the BJP very closely, has realised it now. We are very happy that finally, all political parties have come around and accepted the Congress party’s stand that we can’t have anything to do with communal forces like the BJP.”