Ex-Bihar CMs attack Narendra Modi, want SP-BSP to come together against the BJP in UP
Patna : Former chief ministers of Bihar and political rivals till yesterday, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, remembered their socialist roots after coming together at an election rally at Hajipur near Patna on Monday and launched scathing attack on their common rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Both Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar shared a common election platform at Hajipur to blame social media for the victory of Narendra Modi-led BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
They said the youths who are active in social media were influenced by the aggressive media campaign by Narendra Modi. They were misled with the promise of giving employment to youths in 18-28 age group, the two leaders said while addressing a poorly attended election meeting of not more than 2000 people at Jamalpur High School grounds.
Lalu described Nitish as his younger brother and defended the former chief minister joining campaign with him by saying that “Where should the younger brother go for help, he came to me”.
Lalu said that both he and Nitish belonged to the same political roots (Socialists) and regretted Nitish had deviated for 20 years. Now, since he has joined hands with the secular forces of Congress and RJD, the new grand alliance would capture all the ten seats in state assembly by-poll on August 21.
Nitish said the Narendra Modi-led election campaign in April-May was rumour driven and voters were carried by false promises of the BJP. “The BJP leader in their campaign told people that they would capture Pakistan once it came to power, give jobs to one crore youth in 18-28 age group. Narendra Modi had promised good days (Achche Din) for the people, but people were forced to face bad days as prices of all commodities have been increased. Narendra Modi talked of introducing Bullet trains but raised the rail fare. Better days have come for the BJP leaders and not the common man”, Nitish said.
Lalu also appealed to the two UP stalwarts Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati to join the grand alliance to save UP from the BJP.
Lalu also attacked Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan who represents Hajipur in the Lok Sabha. “Paswan is a successful meteorologist as he switches political allegia-nce every election”, he said.
The Hajipur meeting was held in support of JDU candidate Rajendra Rai.
As the two leaders were sharing a common platform for the first time since 1991, large number of media men from Patna had reached Hajipur early morning. Workers of the three parties – RJD, JDU and Congress – were also present at the grounds.
Hajipur had returned mostly candidates with socialists’ background since 1967, except for two terms when Jagannath Prasad Rai of Congress was elected and in 2005 and in 2010 when BJP’s Nityananad Rai got elected. It is a Yadav and Chaurasiya dominated constituency.
Chhaya Mishra
