BackNitish Kumar prods Lalu Prasad to bail out JD-U nominees in Rajya Sabha
Former Bihar CM asks Prasad, Congress and CPI for support to ensure the victory of party candidates in the bypoll for two Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar on 19 June
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Patna: Facing dissidence, Janata Dal (United), or JD-U, leader Nitish Kumar on Saturday appealed to arch rival Lalu Prasad, besides the Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI), for support to ensure the victory of party candidates in the bypoll for two Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar on 19 June.
“The BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) is the main conspirator in the RS bypoll (for supporting rebellion within JD-U and backing two Independents). It wants to destabilize the Jitan Ram Manjhi government and thrust an early election in Bihar," Kumar said. “I have talked to Lalu Prasad, Congress state chief Ashok Choudhary, its legislature party leader Sadanand Singh and CPI secretary Rajendra Singh, seeking their support for victory of two JD-U candidates in the bypoll to the Rajya Sabha in Bihar," Kumar told reporters at the JD-U headquarters.
Asked whether his appeal to Prasad arose from political compulsion, Kumar said, “No, it is because of the prevailing political circumstances as we have to fight a common enemy in the BJP which is mocking us."
Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, however, ridiculed Kumar for “begging" his arch rival Prasad against whom he fought for past two decades for victory of his candidates in the RS bypoll.
“BJP has no interest to destabilize the Jitan Ram Manjhi government which is being remote-controlled by Nitish Kumar. He has set his house on fire and is blaming BJP for it," he told reporters. “The truth is that he is an expert in engineering defection in other parties. He fomented dissension within the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) resulting in the defection of 13 MLAs (members of the legislative assembly) and ultimately asking three of them to resign from assembly to bring down the strength of the House," he alleged.
Kumar said there was “nothing unusual" in the JD-U making common cause with the RJD, Congress and CPI in the RS bypoll as the three parties had voted for the Manjhi government in the confidence motion on 23 May.
He said “JD-U, along with RJD, Congress and CPI, wants the state government to complete its term ending November next year."
Apparently referring to Sushil Modi, he said, “The entire world knows the strategy to field two independents against JD-U candidates was drawn up at the residence of a senior state BJP leader from whose house they came straight to file nominations." Asked about the dissidence in JD-U, Kumar evaded a direct reply and said, “It is a matter within the family which we will sort out."
State Congress vice-president and its media in-charge Prem Chand Mishra said, “Congress has a positive approach towards the appeal made by Kumar. Congress will never side with anybody supported by BJP and vote for the JD-U candidates in the bypoll," Mishra said.
Leader of the dissident group, Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, attacked Kumar for his appeal to Prasad. “It’s an insult to the people’s mandate for us against RJD in 2010 assembly election. It’s going back on mandate to fight against jungle raj of RJD regime," he told reporters.
Gyanu, flanked by two JD-U MLAs Ravindra Rai and Dinesh Kushwaha, said “Kumar is a complete opportunist. He can do anything to achieve what he wants. I am surprised to see him seek help from Prasad, who he has been fighting since 1994."
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