‘We don’t need him’: Rahul Gandhi’s first reaction after Nitish Kumar switches to BJP

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the ruling BJP was spreading hatred and violence to divert attention from pressing social and economic issues.

By: Express Web Desk

Patna | Updated: January 31, 2024 10:00 AM IST

2 min read

Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Bihar's Purnea, as part of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

In his first reaction to Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar’s switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Tuesday asserted that the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ has “taken the responsibility of delivering social justice” in Bihar, and that the grand alliance “does not need Nitish Kumar.”

The Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) consists of Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Left parties.

Addressing a rally in Bihar’s Purnea as part of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul also mentioned the importance of a caste-census in the country. “The country needs a caste-based census to determine exact population of Dalits, OBCs, and others,” he said.

Rahul further spoke about unemployment and economic justice in the country. He alleged that the ruling BJP was spreading hatred and violence to divert attention from pressing social and economic issues.

Earlier, Nitish Kumar was scheduled to attend the rally, along with RJD founder and former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav. However, they were both absent from the rally, along with former deputy CM and Lalu’s son Tejashwi Yadav. The RJD leaders skipped the event in view of Lalu and Tejashwi’s questioning by the Enforcement Directorate, in connection with the central agency’s money laundering investigation into the alleged land-for-jobs scam.

From the homepage