Nitish targets PM Modi with #ShabdWapsi campaign

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, who earlier announced a joint campaign with Lalu Prasad Yadav, seems to have done a rethink on his poll strategy of going alone with his development pitch.

Inspite of our repeated pleas Modiji hasn’t retracted his derogatory remarks on our DNA, we’re going to launch ‘Shabd Wapsi’, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tweeted. (Source: PTI)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was so far reluctant to share stage with alliance partner Lalu Prasad, has decided to hold a joint JD(U)-RJD rally at Patna on August 29, a day ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s scheduled “Parivartan rally” at Bhagalpur. The PM is expected to announce a special package for Bihar at his rally. As a counter, JD (U) has planned a “Swabhiman rally” to play the “Bihari pride” card and to tell people how Modi “insulted Bihar” with his “DNA jibe” at the CM and also by calling the state “BIMARU”.

To step up the attack, Nitish said a “Shabd Wapsi” (take back your words) campaign would be launched against the PM. The CM said a signature drive would be launched and DNA samples would be sent to the PM, beginning mid-September. “Despite our pleas, Modiji hasn’t retracted his derogatory remarks on our DNA, we’re going to launch Shabd Wapsi,” he tweeted.

Inspite of our repeated pleas Modiji hasn’t retracted his derogatory remarks on our DNA, we’re going to launch शब्दवापसी /TakeBackYourWords

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) August 10, 2015

शब्दवापसी के इस महाअभियान में कम से कम 50लाख बिहार के लोग हस्ताक्षर अभियान से जुड़ेंगे और DNA टेस्ट्स के लिए अपना सैंपल भी मोदीजी को भेजेंगे — Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) August 10, 2015

Nitish, who earlier announced a joint campaign with Lalu, seems to have done a rethink on his poll strategy of going alone with his development pitch.

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JD (U) state president and Rajya Sabha MP Bashistha Narayan Singh said: “Nitish Kumar will share dais with Lalu Prasad on August 29. We are linking it to self-pride after getting feedback from our workers. But development remains our main plank”. Asked if JD (U) was raking up “emotive issues” in a move away from its development plank, Singh said: “Isn’t BJP bringing up emotional issues by talking about Nitish Kumar’s DNA?”

Modi’s DNA barb also saw RJD chief Lalu Prasad come out in Nitish’s support. But Lalu, who has been playing up “Mandalraj, Part II” as his main poll plank, is likely to maintain a balance between Mandal and Bihar-pride issue that the JD(U) now wants to play up along with its development card.

Santosh Singh

Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. ... Read More

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