After a fortnight-long review of the state of affairs in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left Patna for New Delhi Wednesday to seek the Centre's cooperation and assistance for accelerating development and improving law and order situation in the state.

• Lalu out, Nitish in

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

Nitish, during his two-day stay in New Delhi, will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, besides former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Bharatiya Janata Party president Lal Kishenchand Advani, official sources said.

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

The progress made on execution of central schemes, particularly those under Sam Vikas Yojana and other rurals chemes would come up for discussion during the meeting between the prime minister and Nitish, they said.

The chief minister will discuss with Patil the action plan formulated for better policing and request the Centre to despatch 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 modernisation of police force will also figure in his discussion with the Union home minister.