Nitish Kumar meets Sitaram, discuss ways to stop BJP

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today met CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and discussed the need for like-minded parties to get together to halt Narendra Modi' and BJP in the UP polls, sources said, terming the parleys as the "beginning of a churning process" in national politics.
At the 30-minute meeting, Kumar is also learnt to have discussed his position on demonetisation with the CPI(M) general secretary, saying while he was against black money, he did not agree with the way the note ban was implemented and the move has not achieved the goals.
The JD(U) chief, who visited the CPI(M) headquarters here for the meeting along with senior party leader K C Tyagi, had initially defended the invalidation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 currency notes.

Asked what transpired at the meeting, Kumar said it was a courtesy call. "We had planned to catch up earlier and since I am here, we decided to meet," he told PTI.
The sources said the two leaders discussed stopping Modi and the BJP to "save the country" and stressed the need for all like-minded parties to come together.
Asked whether it meant the parties would have an understanding with the SP-Congress alliance in UP, the sources cryptically said, "...This is the beginning of the process. The churning process in the Indian politics is beginning."
The sources said the two leaders discussed the issue of black money and underscored need to combat black money. Kumar spoke against black money which is also the CPI(M)'s position.

"But demonetisation is not the way to go about fighting the menace. CPI(M) has been saying it is not the way to fight black money. He (Nitish) also agreed to it and said the goals have not been achieved," the sources said.