High-pitch campaigning ends for first phase of polls

With the beef issue having has taken the centre stage in the poll-bound state, leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) launched a scathing attack on the grand alliance. Singh, the national vice-president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has the responsibility to secure Rajput votes for the Mahagadbandhan.

Though, RJD has played down the Singh’s remarks on beef by saying that his comments should be seen in the historical context.

While Giriraj Singh, the firebrand leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), added more fuel to the BJP-RJD spat by saying that the ‘entire clan of RJD has gone mad.’ “I am deeply hurt with Raghuvansh Prasad Singh’s statement. I think he was influenced by his mentor Lalu Prasad and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Whatever he is talking is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” he said.

“I assume Lalu and his party leaders are making such statements only to gain votes. It seems that the entire RJD has gone mad,” said Singh, who represents <g data-gr-id="41">Nawada</g> seat in the Lok Sabha.

Defending Singh, a former union minister, RJD national spokesperson Manoj Jha said: “Singh’s remarks over beef has nothing to do with the elections. His remarks should be seen in the context of history only. It has nothing to do with contemporary politics. The BJP is trying to change the course of the elections by raising such issues.”

In contrary to Giriraj Singh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh distanced himself from controversial statements made by some of his party colleagues.

Replying to a comment on the statement made by RJD chief on beef issue, the Home Minister said: “Election is a festival of democracy, where issues like caste and religion should not come up. Such statements should not have been made. It is an attempt to divert people’s attention from real issues.” 

Meanwhile, in two important developments, former Bihar Chief Minister and Brahmin face Jagannath Mishra has decided to revive his party – Bharatiya Jan Congress (Rashtriya) for the victory of BJP-led alliance in the state, while another former Chief Minister and noted Brahmin face Kailashpati Mishra’s daughter-in-law Dilmani Devi has switched her loyalty towards Janata Dal-United (JD-U). Devi was ‘denied’ a ticket from the Brahmpur seat in Buxar district, from where she was elected in 2010, citing that there is anti-incumbency wave against her and the BJP has fielded Vivek Thakur, son of senior party leader and former union minister CP Thakur from the constituency.

Devi lashed out Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home minister Rajnath Singh for “insulting” her father-in-law, a founding member of the saffron party. “When I was crying on death of ‘babuji’ (Kailashpati Mishra) in 2012, Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh consoled me saying I need not worry till they are there...where are they today when the BJP deprived me with the nomination for no good reason?” an angry Devi questioned.

While BJP president Amit Shah said incumbent Bihar CM cannot develop the state and govern it carrying RJD chief Lalu’s jungle raj on one shoulder and Congress’ corruption on the other.

The districts that will go to polls in the first phase are –  Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Nawada and Jamui.