Cong may abstain from trust vote

To keep its options open in Bihar politics, the Congress is unlikely to vote against the Nitish Kumar government in the confidence motion on Wednesday. The party is mulling the safer route of abstaining from the vote in the assembly, HT reports.

To keep its options open in Bihar politics, the Congress is unlikely to vote against the Nitish Kumar government in the confidence motion on Wednesday. The party is mulling the safer route of abstaining from the vote in the assembly.

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With Lalu Prasad’s RJD still supporting the UPA from outside, abstaining from a trust vote would enable the Congress to maintain its distance from JD(U). At the same time, it would not be seen as an opponent of Kumar, who snapped JD(U)’s 17-year-old ties on the plank of secularism.

“We are observing. The AK Antony Committee (on coalitions) will decide whether we will align with it,” party spokesman Meem Afzal said on Tuesday.

The Congress has four MLAs in the Bihar assembly but Kumar so far, has not sought Congress’ help to save his government.

“We are in no hurry to choose an ally in Bihar. A decision will be taken much later, before the next year’s polls,” said a senior Congress leader.