The BJP on Friday alleged that fearing a ‘rout’ in the elections, the Janata Dal(U) had struck “a secret understanding” in Bihar with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) by withdrawing minority candidates from the lok Sabha contests.
BJP’s Chief Media-Coordinator Ravishankar Prasad gave the example of Kisanganj constituency where he said the JD(U) made its candidate exit to help others. Prasad claimed more of such candidates from the minority community would be asked to withdraw to prevent a split in the Muslim votes.
JD(U) candidate Akhtarul Iman had a couple of days back withdrawn his candidature from Kisanganj, a Muslim dominated constituency in Bihar.
“I have decided to withdraw myself from election in favour of sitting Congress candidate to check split of minority votes,” Iman said. Congress candidate Maulana Asrarul Haque is seeking re-election from the Kisanganj seat.
Prasad described Iman’s exit as “highly suspicious”. Prasad said since parties opposing the BJP were “fearing rout” more minority candidates of the JD(U) would be withdrawn from the fray. The BJP leader said his party would take half of the 40 lok Sabha seats in Bihar. “Joint candidates or separate … Bihar loves Modi,” he said and sought to wait until May 16 when the lok Sabha results would be out.
Asked about Election Commission’s directive to lift its ban on BJP general secretary Amit Shah but not on SP leader Azam Khan, he said Khan said a lot against the Commission but Shah was ‘honest’ in saying that he ‘respects its instructions’.
Quizzed on the Wall Street Journal's account of the purported property of Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the BJP leader said, “It is a serious issue”. He said instead of ‘throwing mud’ on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Sonia, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Union Ministers should answer as to how he owned Rs300 crore property in Rajasthan and Haryana. He said Rajasthan government has already ordered an inquiry.
On Coalgate, Prasad said when properly investigated, it would “effect not only 7, Race Course Road (PM’s residence) but elsewhere too”.