Nitish: Wanted another name for INDIA bloc

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday that he had asked the 27-party Opposition bloc to not name itself INDIA and added that he took the initiative to push for a caste survey in Bihar, dismissing claims by Rahul Gandhi that the Congress was instrumental in implementing the landmark exercise.

- Vijay Swaroop

Talking to reporters in Patna three days after he severed ties with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and formed the government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kumar also dismissed speculation that he will leave the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

"I had asked them to choose a different name for the alliance but they decided it. I was trying so hard. They were not doing anything... not even discussing seat sharing," he said. "I ave come back here (NDA). There is no question of going anywhere else. I will work for the people of Bihar," he said, adding that he didn't care about the future of the Opposition grouping.

At a meeting held in Bengaluru on July 17-18, the Opposition bloc had adopted the name INDIA or Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.

Kumar also dismissed statements by Rahul Gandhi taking credit for last year's caste survey.