Nitish Kumar lends support to AAP for Delhi's statehood

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday came out in support of full statehood for Delhi and said Janata Dal-United in coordination with other parties will raise the issue in the Parliament.

Slamming the Centre, Kumar, who on Tuesday met his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal at Delhi Secretariat in New Delhi, said that people voted for Aam Aadmi Party and Kejriwal and people will hold him responsible.

“Delhi should get full statehood status. People cast their votes with lot of enthusiasm to form a government. People know those whom they give their votes. People don't understand nitty-gritties.

“They (people) think that from law and order to crime and police all come under government's control. In Delhi, police don't come under state government," Kumar said after his meeting with Kejriwal at the Delhi secretariat.

He said since the government is accountable to people, the Chief Minister Kejriwal should have the power to choose departmental secretaries.

“Which officers will be secretary of which department and if government doesn't have power to do the same...government is accountable towards people. The campaign being run to give full statehood status to Delhi has overwhelming support of people,” Kumar also said.

The Bihar chief minister said his party will raise the issue in the Parliament and try to garner support of other parties.

“Our leaders will coordinate with other party leaders and raise the issue in the Parliament to give full statehood status for Delhi.”

Kejriwal also thanked Kumar for allowing Bihar police personnel to join the Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The meeting between the two leaders assumes significance ahead of the Bihar polls as both are known to be bete-noire of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The AAP government in Delhi is at loggerheads with the Centre. Amid escalating tension and the turf war between the two, the AAP has decided to give "tactical" support to Kumar by campaign against the BJP and not fielding its candidates.

A senior AAP leader, requesting anonymity, said the party will campaign against the BJP and, if need arises, Arvind Kejriwal may also plunge into the battle.

On being asked whether he has invited Kejriwal to campaign during Bihar elections, Kumar said "let the time of poll comes first".