Varanasi, Sept 29: Railways Minister Nitish Kumar today said the Samata Party would go it alone in the next Parliamentary elections. "Samata would not go in for a tie-up with any other party in the general elections next year”, he told reporters here after flagging off a train from Varanasi to Howrah. Asked to comment on the resignation of HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, he said it was an internal matter of the BJP. He brushed aside a query on allotment of portfolio to TC chief Mamta Banerjee, saying that allotment of portfolios was the prerogative of the Prime Minister. Turning to Railways, Kumar said a special safety fund has been created to replace worn-out rail tracks and a project for that has been prepared.
"Repairing of damaged tracks and rail bridges is on the top of my priority list. My department is doing everything possible in this connection," he said.
Under attack for increasing rail mishaps, Kumar claimed that during 2002-2003 there have been "less" accidents as compared to last year.
Bureau Report