Says jungle raj old issue, anti-BJPism now main concern; RJD chief non-committal on backing JD(U)
Two days after his predecessor and party leader Nitish Kumar said that he dialed RJD chief lalu Prasad and sought support for two JD(U) candidates in the ensuing RS bypoll, Bihar Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi on Monday explained that ‘jungle raj of lalu’s regime’ was an old issue and anti-BJPism now has become the main concern for all secular parties.
“Human being did not wear clothes during ancient time but developed subsequently and started wearing good clothes. likewise jungle raj is an old issue and anti-BJPism is now the prime concern,” said Manjhi when asked how he or his party could justify joining hands with lalu-led RJD whose regime they have been blaming as the “Jungle raj”.
Earlier on Saturday Nitish had declared that he did talk to lalu and sought his support for the two JD(U) candidates in the upcoming RS bypoll scheduled to be held on June 19.
Both the archrivals Nitish and lalu had politically not been on talking terms for the last two decades.
While reacting over Nitish’s tele-talk with him, lalu on Sunday said that when his house has come under fire, he (Nitish) was looking for fire tenders. “I’ll first discuss the issue with my party MlAs and then will decide,” said lalu apparently not very keen to join hands with Nitish, who is surrounded by those party leaders who had been instrumental in sending him to jail in connection with a fodder scam case in Ranchi.
Meanwhile, party sources in the RJD told The Pioneer that some of the party MlAs has told their party chief that if he would support the JD(U) candidates, the RJD might set for another split. “Most of the party MlAs do not want to extend support to the JD(U),” said a RJD MlA.
“let’s see what our party president takes decision on the issue, but the JD(U) has always been attacking the RJD,” said RJD MlA from Maner constituency Bhai Birendra.
However, the Chief Minister was hopeful to get support of the RJD and other secular parties like the Congress and the CPI while justifying Nitish dialing to lalu and the other parties for their support.
“It’s anti-BJPism and not anti-Congressism the predominant issue now and hence there is need for all the parties to come on one platform to take on the BJP,” said Manjhi, while addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of his weekly janata durbar.
He further alleged that it was all a design by the BJP to ensure defeat of two candidates of the JD(U) in the RS bypoll and subsequently lay grounds for fall of the JD(U) Government and thrusting an early poll in the State.
When told that lJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan had recently asserted that the State Assembly elections in Bihar would be held in next six months as the ruling JD(U) would fall under its inner contradictions and dissension, Manjhi expressed ignorance on it.
“I do not know on what basis he is saying this. My Government will complete its full course and election to the State Assembly will take place on its due time,” he said.
When reached for his comment on the ever growing dissension in his party, Manjhi played it down saying there has been some dissatisfaction among some of our party legislators which we are trying to sort out. “It is not a big issue,” he said, adding that a meeting of the JD(U) legislature Party has been called on Tuesday to discuss the RS bypoll.
Recently the JD(U) had served notice to two of its party’s suspended MlAs Renu Kushwaha and Annu Shukla for indulging in anti-party activities and making a case for dismissal of their membership.
But, the Chief Minister said he was not aware of any such developments happening in the party. “I’m not aware of it,” he quipped in reaction.
Manjhi also charged the BJP for winning the general elections in Bihar and elsewhere on money power but “their happiness will not last long as the JD(U) is set to come to power with two-third majority in the next State Assembly polls due in October-November next year”.
Meanwhile, the State BJP on Monday observed ‘Betrayal Day’ as the JD(U) had snapped its ties with the BJP on this day last year. All the State BJP leaders were present on the occasion. When asked about the BJP observing ‘Betrayal Day’, Manjhi said it was wrong to blame the JD(U) for the split.