Warily, Nitish thanks PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tweet praising Bihar’s development during the state’s NDA regime brought only a terse expression of gratitude from chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday, indicating the JD(U) stalwart’s caution about the political implications of his words.
“Bahut, bahut dhanyavad (Many, many thanks)” was what Mr Kumar said when asked to comment about a tweet by Dr Singh that praised Bihar as India’s fastest growing state with a 10.9 per cent growth against Gujarat’s 9.3 per cent between 2006-07 and 2010-11. Mr Kumar’s words were in sharp contrast to his fulsome praise for Union finance minister P. Chidambaram after the Union Budget.
Apparently mindful of the tension created between the NDA allies JD(U) and BJP by his elaborate admiration for Mr Chidambaram, Mr Kumar restrained himself this time. Bihar Opposition leaders, who counted the words “thank you” spoken seven times by Mr Kumar for Mr Chidambaram and the Centre, had construed this as the JD(U) leader’s increasing tilt towards the Congress.
As Mr Kumar responded, he kept walking ahead, looking downward and watching his steps, clearly unwilling to answer any more questions. JD(U) sources said Mr Kumar also asked party leaders to apply similar caution in speaking publicly about the PM’s praise.
“Kumar’s words and body language reflected his caution to ensure that his praise for another top Congress leader within a week gets no unsavoury political meaning attached to it,” said a senior JD(U) legislator.
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