BJP Stands for ‘Bharatiya Jumla Party’, Says Nitish Kumar

Meanwhile, the two leaders of the grand secular alliance today claimed 57 per cent voter turnout in 49 seats in the first phase of Assembly election yesterday would go in their favour.

“I wonder what has prompted the RJD supremo to stand with Kumar despite being convicted for five years of imprisonment in the fodder scam which was pursued by the chief minister’s men in the courts”, Yadav said during an election meeting at Bhabhua town in Kaimur district. By end of 2018, almost 10 “nominated seats” will also be filled (which normally favor the ruling party at the centre).

But everyone agrees that the main battle will be between Modi and Nitish Kumar, who once sailed in the same boat but are now bitter foes.

The legislative business could not be undertaken during the Monsoon Session of Parliament due to opposition raking up the issue of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj helping former Indian Premier League head Lalit Modi obtain United Kingdom temporary papers while being under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate for foreign exchange violation. The party has requested the EC to permit live screening of the prime minister’s rallies. I have never seen an election so polarized along caste lines.

“Modi’s credibility and charisma will be in doubt if the BJP suffers a defeat”, warned Jai Prakash, an activist.

For a few time after the BJP’s massive successes in the Lok Sabha elections in May past year, the saffron party’s position in state elections was clear – it refused to project any candidate as the potential chief minister and instead foregrounded Modi’s charisma. The BJP lost that election, and is now leaving no stone unturned to win Bihar.

Highlighting the current incident of sacking of Bihar’s Urban and Excise Department Minister Awadhesh Kushwaha, Nitish additionally questioned the BJP’s intention in preventing graft. Here, too, the BJP gained 43 seats.

Backing Modi’s aggressive campaign are 13 of his 26 ministers, mostly from Bihar. Here again, BJP registered a win over strong regional parties. Many more JD-U ministers and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders are involved in taking bribe from others promising to do favors to them if the Nitish-Lalu-Congress-led “grand alliance” once again came into power. The BJP or its allies have no intention to scrap or even discuss reservation. This time, the JD(U) put up 24 candidates, the RJD 17 and the Congress 8 candidates. About 66 million voters are eligible to participate and the results will be released November 8.

He said that five helicopters, including three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been deployed for air surveillance during polling.

But that is no news for Bihar.