Nitish, Lalu put aside their differences; show their 'bhai-chara' at event

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad on Tuesday came together at a platform for the first time after the announcement of a secular front for the upcoming Bihar poll and promised to send Bharatiya Janata Party packing in state election.

The two who buried their hatchet to come together for the Bihar polls targeted BJP and showed bonhomie among them at the Hindustan Samagam programme.

Earlier on two occasions, despite being scheduled, the two failed to share dais as Nitish Kumar skipped both functions apparently against RJD creating roadblocks in process of merger and later tie-up for Bihar elections.

Speaking first, Nitish Kumar hit at BJP and called it the “worst practitioner” of caste politics in the country. “While BJP accuses us of being ‘casteist’, the fact is that BJP’s politics is centred on caste and to gain votes its sparing no efforts to organise caste based meetings and convention,” Kumar said.

Kumar, who drove Janta Dal-United to sever ties with BJP on June 16, 2013 over elevation of Narendra Modi as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, made a mockery of saffron party’s claiming “share” in the good governance in the state since 2005 when NDA came to power in Bihar.

“They are claiming share in good works even in ministries which were not with BJP ministers,” Kumar said mocking the claim.

Kumar alleged that BJP was trying to whip “communal frenzy” with an aim to derive votes of majority section which was dangerous for the country.

RJD President Lalu Prasad defended joining hands with Nitish Kumar and said they hailed from same family. He narrated past incidents since the days of Jayprakash Narayan’s 1974 movement to show their closeness. The two are known in Bihar politics as ‘Bade bhai’ (Lalu) and ‘Chote bhai’ (Nitish).

“Nitish had helped me become Leader of Opposition in those days and also to become chief minister in 1990,” he said.

“Nitish was kidnapped by BJP whom I have set free now,” he said triggering laughter even by Kumar sitting by his side. The RJD chief said they have come together to facilitate “ghar wapsi” of BJP in the elections.

Prasad after showing resistance initially accepted Nitish Kumar as CM face of secular alliance reportedly after Congress made it stand clear in favour of Kumar.

Prasad hailed the good work of Nitish Kumar in the state and reminded that journalists used to come in horde to see development in the state under him.