Tuesday, November 22 2005 15:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Bihar's would-be Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today (Nov 22,2005) identified good governance as his foremost task but parried questions on whether he would have a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Deputy Chief Minister and on corruption charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad.

"We have not discussed it (having a deputy chief minister). The challenge before us was the elections. Janata Dal (JD) United (U) and the BJP together campaigned in the elections and we projected ourselves as an unified force which was liked by the people and they reposed faith in us," he said when asked to comment on the possibility of appointing a deputy Chief Minister.

Parrying questions on corruption charges against his friend-turned-foe Lalu Prasad, the JD(U) leader said, "Today is a day of victory. We will talk about these things later".

On whether he would make "tainted" MLAs ministers, Kumar evaded a direct reply smilingly saying, "Even before I have been elected the leader (of NDA legislature party), you have declared me Chief Minister".

He said the date of formation of Government, its size and drawing up a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) would be finalized within a day or two.

To questions on providing reservation to Dalit Muslims, he said all said promises made in the election manifesto would be kept.

To a question whether the National Democratic (NDA) would still demand removal of state Governor Buta Singh, Kumar quipped 'these are all old matters now'.

Congratulating the Election Commission for conducting an 'impartial' and 'free' election, he said, "There was a myth that free elections were not possible in Bihar and the EC has destroyed that myth. We will also destroy another myth that there can be no governance in Bihar."

"We will help the people of Bihar utilize their talent, potential and ability to the fullest so that the entire country can feel proud of the state," he said. Describing the NDA's sweep in Bihar as a "Victory of the people," he said it would work to fulfil their ambitions and provide 'good governance.'

"I want to congratulate the people of Bihar. It is their victory, they wanted a change and they voted for a change," he said.

"Every caste and every community in the state voted for change and stability. People in Bihar wanted good governance and we are grateful they have reposed faith in us. We will try to fulfil their ambitions."

Right from the morning, Kumar's supporters and well wishers made a bee-line to his 22, Akbar Road residence. Later senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitely, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushil Kumar Modi, Ranjath Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad and his party colleague Sharad Yadav met him amidst staccato burst of crackers and playing of bands to celebrate the victory.