Patna: The increasing warmth and close ties between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal was visible again on Thursday when they shared a dais in Patna and vowed to help each other in what appeared to be a new “grouping” against Prime Minister Narendra Modi — their common enemy.

Kejriwal, who visited Patna for the first time after becoming Delhi chief minister, reached Patna on Kumar’s formal to attend a function on good governance. Although this was an official function intended to tell the masses how Bihar has scripted a new chapter of governance under Kumar, Kejriwal used the occasion to launch a scathing attack on Modi and woo voters in favour of Kumar.

“Federalism is a basic structure of Indian constitution, and Centre and state must work in proper coordination but the Union government has gone on declaring null and void every decision taken by the Delhi government in the past six months. Criticism is OK until elections but postelections both [centre and state governments] should work in tandem,” Kejriwal said.

He narrated how the formation of an inquiry committee by the Delhi government over a rape incident was declared null and void by the centre. “Doesn’t he as a Delhi chief minister have a right to even form an inquiry committee?” he asked, describing it as a “negative politics”.

He also slammed Modi for not bringing back the back money as promised by him before Lok Sabha elections. “He had promised to bring back black money. Not even 25 paise has come till date. Officials say there is just no effort in that direction,” Kejriwal said. He also hit out at the centre for failing to bring down inflation and clean the nation.

“I can say with the authority that not a lane has been cleaned up till date although around Rs100 million (Dh5.56 million) has been spent on government’s advertisements over Clean India campaign,” he alleged.

The Delhi CM also attacked the prime minister his ‘DNA’ barb. “Those raising questions on the DNA of the people of Bihar must know that history is full of their constructions. This is not fair. They made the same mistake when they questioned my ‘gotra’ [sub-caste] during the Delhi elections,” he said.

He also flayed Modi over the way he allegedly tried to bribe the people of Bihar by announcing a special package. “The people of Bihar need to give a befitting reply to the PM the way he tried to purchase them. Can they be purchased so cheaply?” he asked, and hugely thanked Kumar for promptly sending a team of officials in his fight against corruption. He said Bihar had achieved the daunting task of good governance under Kumar adding even the people in Delhi were talking very much about Kumar’s model of governance.

Kumar reciprocated the gesture by lending his wholehearted support to Kejiwal’s demand for full statehood to Delhi. “I assure you to extend all my support for your demand for full statehood to Delhi. Granting full statehood to Delhi is a must just as special category status to Bihar for all-round development,” Kumar said.

He also urged the Bihari migrants to lend their support to Kejriwal in his fight for Delhi’s rights. “You may be, perhaps, aware of the power of the Bihar migrants. Delhi will come to a grinding halt if the Bihari migrants strike work even for a day,” said Kumar. Later, both the leaders visited Bodh Gaya, the place where Buddha had attained enlightenment.

This was the second time in quick succession that both Kumar and Kejriwal had shared dais together. Last week, they had shared platform at a programme in Delhi held to honour Bihari people excelling in different fields while living in the national capital.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal was shown black flags by protesters who claimed to be supporters of social activist Anna Hazare, on his arrival at the Patna airport. The protesters said Kejriwal had fallen in the company of corrupt politicians against whom Hazare had launched agitation.