File Photo: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
In the final hours of the Bihar campaign, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) dug out an old video in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is purportedly seen with Asaram Bapu, the guru who has been in jail for nearly two years over charges of rape.
It was tit-for-tat. Days ago, the BJP had released a video that showed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting a
tantrik or occultist and
PM Modi attacked him over it in his election speech saying, "Jungle raj has got a new twin brother -
jantar mantar. Don't let them come together or there will be nothing but destruction."
At a rally yesterday, Nitish Kumar said, "
PM Modi himself has met astrologers, I have a photo as well, he met Bejan Daruwala.. He has also met Asaram Bapu." Leaders of Nitish Kumar's party helpfully held out their mobile phones to show the Asaram video.
"Asaram Bapu is of the same party," said Nitish Kumar's partner in the anti-BJP 'Grand Alliance' Lalu Yadav.
"Read the signs," retorted Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "Whatever Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar show, people of India have selected Narendra Modi as Prime Minister... People of Bihar now need a Chief Minister who will do development," he added.
"These people are so sad... is it a crime to meet and talk to Daruwala? Will the PM ask them before speaking to anyone?" said Bihar BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav.
The JD(U) says it has brought up an old video only to counter the one released by the BJP, which, Nitish Kumar's party says is two years old.
The episode is the latest in a series of personal attacks and counter-attacks by the two sides in what is seen as a very close battle for Bihar.
The BJP's decision not to project a chief ministerial candidate pitched PM Modi, as the face of the party's campaign, against Nitish Kumar, who is seeking a third straight term as chief minister.
The PM addressed more than 30 rallies, winding up with three yesterday. Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav will address multiple rallies today, the last day of campaigning in this election.
The fifth and final phase of voting will be held in Thursday and votes will be counted on Sunday, November 8.