Just two days ahead of the first phase of Bihar elections, JD(U) leaders aggressively attacked LJP president Chirag Paswan, who seems to be on a mission to target Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, claiming that he will flop like his first film.
JD(U) functionaries moved on the front foot, particularly after the 37-year-old Paswan said he would send Nitish to jail “on charges of corruption” if voted to power. Paswan has been careful with his choice of words against JD(U)’s partner BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Without directly referring to Paswan or poll strategist and former JD(U) national vice president Prashant Kishor, Nitish told a gathering in Muzaffarpur on Monday, “Those who do not have any knowledge or experience are attacking me at the behest of some advisors.”
JD(U) state president Bashistha Narain Singh called Paswan “immature”. He said, “His (Nitish’s) USP is his honesty. Paswan will be rejected by the people and so will all LJP candidates.”
Water resources minister and national general secretary of JD(U) Sanjay Kumar Jha said Paswan had failed as an actor in his first film and is going to meet the same fate as a politician. “See his co-actor Kangana Ranaut is now a top actress and where is Chirag.”
Jha alleged a drug manufacturer from Bihar had funded Paswan's film. He said drug manufacturer was later obliged with a political position by Paswan's father Ram Vilas. Sanjay Kumar Singh, a JD(U) spokesperson who was earlier with Paswan’s LJP, said, “I will expose Chirag and his party. I was an insider; I know who funds his campaign.”
Despite being JD(U)’s active partner, the BJP is silent on Paswan. Instead, its leaders have focused on the Grand Alliance’s CM face Tejashwi Yadav, who is drawing massive crowds at his rallies.
At an election meeting in Purnia, BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday said the RJD had fielded a person who had been “found guilty by court in the murder of Gopalganj district magistrate G Krishanaahiya”. He was referring to former MP Lovely Anand and RJD candidate from Supaul.
'Jamura hota hai naa, usko nachata hai madari. Ye jamura bane hue hain (Just like a puppet who is controlled by the juggler, he’s become a puppet)," said JD(U) minister Sanjay Jha on Chirag Paswan.
Manoj Tiwari's security upped
Patna: The Bihar Police have increased the security cover for BJP MP and popular Bhojpuri film star Manoj Tiwari during Assembly poll in view of intelligence inputs about a possible attack on him. His Secretary Neel Bakshi said after such report, the chief secy had recommended to DGP for increased security for Tiwari, who is one of the 30 star campaigners of BJP and a crowd-puller due to his on-screen persona. "Manoj Tiwari is addressing 4-5 rallies daily in Bihar and people are turning out in thousands to hear him. As per an intelligence input, he faces a life threat as attackers may take advantage of the gatherings," Bakshi said.
‘Babu Saheb’: Tejashwi sparks row
Rohtas RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav courted a controversy on Monday when he said the poor used to walk before "Babu Saheb", a term used to refer to upper caste Rajputs in Bihar, with their held high when Lalu Prasad was in power. The assertion led TV channels to draw a parallel between his comment and his father Lalu Prasad's hugely-panned "BHURA baal saaf karo" remark. BHURA was considered a crass reference to the upper caste Brahmin, Bhumihar, Rajput and Kayastha communities in a Mandalised Bihar. The chief ministerial face of the opposition grand alliance, however, quickly made amends, realising the fallout his statement could have in the election. He hastened to add he will take everybody along and treat people on merit. BJP leader and Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted a video in which he said, "The RJD has made an objectionable remark against forward castes in its rally at Rohtas. The RJD had also opposed the 10 per cent reservation for upper caste poor.”
