Kolkata: Re-elected Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday called up his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee and invited her to attend his swearing-in ceremony. According to sources, Kumar first thanked Banerjee for her support and congratulatory message and then requested her to attend his swearing-in ceremony which is likely to be held after Diwali and Chhat festivals.
“The Bihar chief minister will send the formal invitation card/letter to Didi after the finalisation of the date of swearing-in,” sources added. While the five-phase Assembly elections were in progress, Banerjee had asked the voters of Bihar to vote for Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). “Request you all in Bihar to please vote to re-elect Nitish Kumarji as the chief minister for greater need of our country and development in the state,” she had tweeted ahead of the third phase of the poll.
On Sunday, when it became clear that the Grand Alliance was going to win, she tweeted again. “Congratulations Nitish Kumarji, Laluji and your full team, and all my Bihar brothers and sisters. Victory of tolerance, defeat of intolerance,” she said. Her party spokesperson Derek O’Brien went a step further and claimed that BJP was defeated and India was saved.
The Grand Alliance is now all set to expand and become a pan-India entity.
“Didi, who has always strongly advocated that cooperative federalism is going to play a vital role in the formation of strong secular, democratic alliance which would take shape soon,” sources added. JD(U) secretary general K.C. Tyagi has already made it clear that Kumar’s party, RJD, Trinamul Congress and AAP would work in tandem to fight against BJP. The next Assembly election in Bengal is only six months away.
“Since Banerjee had extended her support to us in Bihar, we will reciprocate her gesture in Bengal,” Tyagi said. Although Trinamul Congress does not face any real challenge from any party in the coming polls, the JD(U) and RJD’s support would ensure that the vote of Bihari voters living in Bengal does not go to the BJP.
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