Bihar Polls: JD(U), RJD announce seat-sharing, to contest 100 seats each

“Inspite of all the differences, we have come to the conclusion that to keep the communal and fascist forces away, we have to move ahead by accommodating others,” Lalu Prasad said.

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Calling the BJP a “kursi bachao party”, Kumar said that there was no ambiguity about seat sharing and added that the alliance would chalk out a common minimum programme with all the constituent parties holding a joint poll campaign from September.

The alliance will formally launch its poll campaign from Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on August 30 with a Swabhiman rally. Nitish had earlier said that the rally would be held on August 29. The rally will now coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Bhagalpur, where he may announce a special package for Bihar.

“We will give a befitting reply to the BJP from Gandhi Maidan,” said Lalu, adding that BJP was unsuccessfully trying to create differences between him and Nitish.

He also attacked the Prime Minister, saying Modi should stop insulting Bihar by calling it a BIMARU state.

“The PM has given clean chit to Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the Vyapam scam. Modi has lowered dignity of his post,” the RJD chief added.

Asked about BJP’s charge that RJD-JD(U) would bring back jungle raj or lawlessness in the state, Lalu said: “The demolition of Babri Masjid and 2002 Gujarat riots are examples of Mangal Raj and when I give voice to the poor it is dubbed as Jungle Raj… The BJP is trying to spread doubts about us but they will not succeed,” he said.

With PTI Inputs