Nitish Kumar seeks to score a point over Congress election reverses

Patna, Mar 12 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the ruling Congress Party is scared of facing mid-term polls following its dismal show in the recently concluded assembly polls in five states of the country.

"There are talks about the formation of a Third Front, but no proper shape about it has come forth. And regarding the talks about a possible mid-term polls, I don't think so. Congress has surely weakened but as long as the Central Government retains the majority in the Parliament, there is no question of any mid term polls," said Kumar.

Kumar clamed that his party is ready for polls any time it takes place. "We are always ready for continuous 24 hours. Be it mid term polls or annual polls, we are always ready. We are always among the people. That is why we know the mind of the people and we give them suggestions as well," he said.

The mid-term polls issue gathered strength, after Railways Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Dinesh Trivedi said that if there was an anti-Congress wave in the country and the Samajwadi Party and the BJP wanted an early poll then Congress would have to respond.

His statement has caused concern in the Congress Party.

The Congress fared badly in three of the five states where elections were held, namely Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa.

Kumar also hit out at Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal for rejecting the suggestion of the e state government to establish the campus of the proposed Central University of Bihar in Motihari town.

"I don't seem to understand as to how Kapil Sibal intends to implement his proposal. I replied his letter point by point I also met Antony. After that he got back to his old stand. I don't know why he is against Motihari?" asked Kumar.

"He had earlier stated that he would help in establishing the university. We do not need his permission to establish a state's university. The issue is about setting up a central university. So he is trying to avoid the issue," he added.

While the Bihar Government is pushing for Motihari town as the campus of the university, the HRD ministry backed by Sibal is insisting that the location should be Gaya. (ANI)