JD(U)-RJD coalition unethical and opportunistic: Amit Shah

Patna: BJP national president Amit Shah on Saturday dubbed as “unethical” and “opportunistic” the alliance between Janata Dal [United] and Rashtriya Janata Dal [RJD] which was nothing but to achieve personal goals of the leaders who head these regional outfits.

Mr Shah told media persons in Patna both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav who hated each other till recently have entered into a conspiracy to “cheat” the voters.

Targeting JD (U) senior leader Nitish Kumar, Mr Shah said that the former Bihar Chief Minister always wanted to become the Prime Minister and he has now stooped low by shaking hands with Lalu who “past is known to the world”.

“The JD [U]-RJD alliance was against the wishes of people. Nitish Kumar in the past had fought elections against the “RJD’s Jungle Raj” and came to power. Now he was holding hands of Lalu Yadav who was voted out of politics because of misrule and criminalization of politics.

The BJP national president was on a two-day visit to Patna to participate the birth anniversary function of Jan-Nayak Karpoori Thakur.

He said if BJP voted to power in Bihar, the state would get more than what was required. Nitish Kumar unilaterally broke the alliance with BJP to push the state into an era of darkness.

With assembly polls approaching in Bihar that is expected to be held in the month of November, BJP has set a goal of 185 (plus) for itself in Bihar. According to senior BJP leader who was also present during the function on Friday said that winning the assembly polls of Bihar have become a matter of prestige for BJP, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

But there is restlessness among the senior BJP leaders of Bihar as they expect a name for the chief ministerial candidate to be declared soon by the party. The national president however refuted the question and categorically said that party would announce the name of the would-be Chief Minister at the right time. He said there is set forum for such announcement and party never does anything without consulting it with its core committee or Parliamentary board.

“We have not decided anything about it as yet. Decision for the Chief Ministerial candidate will be made in the parliamentary board”. The party chief made it clear that like the elections in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand the election in Bihar too would be fought and won on the charisma of the Prime Minister.

However on the question of naming former IPS and Aam Admi Party leader Kiran Bedi as Delhi Chief ministerial candidate Amit Shah was defensive. He said “BJP is providing a platform to the people who want to serve the country. What’s wrong in it”, he asked.

Reacting sharply on the statements of Amit Shah, the JD (U) leader Neeraj Kumar said,  “They declared the name of Kiran Bedi in Delhi but they don’t have guts to declare the name of the chief minister candidate in Bihar as there is no vacancy in Bihar”.

The chief minister of Bihar however chose to remain silent over the issue and said that the only right person answer the questions raised by Amit Shah over the ‘Unholy Coalition’ would be JD (U) senior leader Nitish Kumar.

“Ask Nitish Kumar about what Amit Shah has said about the coalition not me”, Chief Minister said.