Nitish Kumar Speaks Of Grand Alliance Of Anti-BJP Parties For 2019

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today spoke of all parties opposed to the BJP joining hands to form a Grand Alliance "on the pattern of Bihar" to push the ruling party out of power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Mr Kumar was speaking in Patna after he formally took over as the Janata Dal (United).

The JD(U) joined hands with Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress to form a Grand Alliance which trumped the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and bring back Mr Kumar as Bihar Chief Minister for a third consecutive term in November last year.

"But, for this all of us will have to make sacrifices and follow the policy of give and take," Mr Kumar said, as he urged his party's leaders and workers to stop referring to him as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the future. "I believe in work and by announcing one name and throwing the hat in the ring you can't become Prime Minister in the next seven births...But, if the post is destined for you then no one can stop you from becoming the Prime Minister," Mr Kumar added.

Once again, he launched a sharp attack on the BJP and RSS. "Who has given them the right to issue the certificate of Deshbhakti (patriotism)," he said. "I'm a deshbhakt but (I) don't need any certificate from those people who played no role in our freedom struggle."

"If the BJP is serious about governance then they should fulfil the promise of bringing back black money and giving a better MSP (support price) to our farmers. But, to divert the attention, they talk about cow slaughter, ghar wapasi and deshbhakti," Mr Kumar said, addressing his party's National Council meeting.

The Bihar chief minister ruled out any reversal of his prohibition policy that came into force earlier this month. Instead, he said, he will now travel to Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand to impress upon the people and government to follow the policy rather than open new liquor outlets in the areas bordering Bihar.