Nitish to support anyone if it grants special status to Bihar

Describing the political situation as "critical" after Trinamool Congress withdrew its support to the UPA government, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said he would support anyone in the formation of the next government at the Centre if it grants special category status to Bihar.

"I will extend support to anyone in the formation of the next government if it grants special status to Bihar," he said while addressing a public meeting.

He said the political situation at the Centre had turned unstable after the TMC pulled out support to the UPA government.

He, however, did not say if he would fill the vacuum left by TMC's withdrawal and in that event extend support to the UPA government.

Kumar indicated that the UPA government might not collapse following TMC's withdrawal of support, saying the Congress was adept at managing the numbers required to run the government, but it would have to suffer ignominy in the next Parliamentary elections.

"Congress ke log jugad mein mahir hain... lekin jitna din yeh sarkar chalegi utni hi durdasha iski aagami Lok Sabha chunav mein honi wahi hai," Kumar, a senior JD(U) leader, said.

JD(U) backs Mamata's decision; says UPA worse than East India Company

Terming as "bold and right" Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee's decision to withdraw support to the government, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav on Wednesday said she is firmly rooted to the ground and understands the problems of people.

"I salute and welcome her bold and right decision. Last time also she had opposed the FDI decision during NDA rule," Yadav said.

Trinamool Congress, the second biggest constituent of the UPA, yesterday dealt a major blow to the Manmohan Singh government when it decided to withdraw its support on the issue of petroleum price hike, FDI in retail and corruption.

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