Bihar CM to address rally in Delhi with an eye on Third Front

New Delhi, March 16 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will address his first rally in the national capital since taking charge of the administration in the state in 2005. The occasion is the Bihar Shatabdi Utsav on March 18.

Amid speculation about the emergence of a new political formation, Kumar's address to large gathering of people from Bihar in Delhi assumes importance, as national parties like the Congress and the BJP are facing a crisis of identity following abject performance in just concluded assembly elections in five states.

The centenary celebration of the formation of the state Bihar will see Kumar felicitating over 10 people from the state who have excelled in their respective professional domains.

The rally is attracting attention because till now Nitish had restricted himself to state politics, and avoiding holding meetings outside the state.

Nitish has predicted the downfall of the Congress-led UPA Government at the center before it completes its full term, and in the case of a non-Congress, non-BJP political formation at the Centre, he is a frontrunner to lead the coalition at the Centre.

Neeraj Kumar, a member of the Bihar Legislative Council, said that this is the time to show Bihar's emergence as a model state under the able leadership of Nitish Kumar.

"If Bihar can change under Nitish Kumar, than why not India. It is time to show the people of the country how Bihar has become one of the fastest developing states," he added.

Those who have been nominated for the Vishishta Bihari Samman include names of renowned personalities from the field of television, journalism, sports, academics, medicine, law and the bureaucracy.

The mega event is being organised by the Bihar Shatabdi Utsav Aayojan Samiti, Delhi Chapter, to celebrate the completion of 100 years of Bihar. Thousands from across the NCR region are likely to participate in the event on March 18 at the Coronation Park in Burari.

The co-ordinator of the Samiti, Sanjay Jha, said that this is a great opportunity for the people of Bihar to unite and celebrate the achievements of the people who made it big and made Bihar popular.

"This is the first programme of its kind which brings Biharis from all walks of life on a single platform to celebrate the glory of Bihar and its people," he added.

Those who have been nominated for the Vishishta Bihari Samman include former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, renowned journalist Prem Shankar Jha, former cricketer, Syed Saba Karim, former Indian hockey coach Harinder Singh, famous Bhopuri singer and actor Manoj Tiwari, popular artist Jayant Kastuwar, Star TV CEO Uday Shankar, Madhubani painting artist Bharti Dayal, and renowned lawyer Ranjeet Kumar.

Manoj Tiwari said: "I am extremely happy to have been nominated for the Vishishta Bihari Samman. It's a message for all the Biharis that wherever we go, we will make our state proud." By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)