Wednesday, December 7 2005 19:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: After a fortnight-long review of the state of affairs in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left here for New Delhi today (December 7, 2005) to seek Center's cooperation and assistance for accelerating the pace of development and improve law and order situation in the state.

After being sworn in on November 24, Kumar had already reviewed the works of all the departments and listed the problems which needed immediate attention to fulfill his promise for building a new Bihar.

Official sources said Kumar during his two-day stay in New Delhi, would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home minister Shivraj Patil, besides former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP president L K Advani.

The Jehanabad jailbreak operation by the naxalites had raised concerns over the growing extremist activities in the state and the administration had sought central assistance for tackling the ultra-left outfits.

The progress made on execution of central schemes, particularly those under Sam Vikas Yojana and other rural schemes would come up for discussion during the meeting between prime minister and Kumar, official sources said.

Chief minister during his meeting with Patil would discuss the action plan formulated for better policing and request the Center to dispatch 110 companies of the CPMF, besides the need for one battalion exclusively for the east-west corridor project, work on which commenced on Sunday.

The issue modernization of police force will also figure in his discussion with Patil.