Expel Pragya Thakur: Nitish tells BJP

Hours before the seventh and last phase of election was over, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked the BJP to expel leaders like Pragya Thakur for making "highly objectionable remarks" against Mahatma Gandhi.

“The statement given by Pragya Thakur against Bapu is highly condemnable. We will not tolerate such derogatory remarks against the Father of the Nation. The BJP should expel such leaders for calling Nathuram Godse as desh-bhakt,” said Nitish after casting his vote at a booth near Raj Bhavan.

“However, it’s an internal matter of the BJP and they will have to decide about action against Pragya,” added Nitish, who is also the national president of the JD (U), an ally of the BJP.

Nitish also had a word of advice for the Election Commission. “The Lok Sabha elections should not be conducted in such a staggered manner. Instead of seven phases, the polls should have been conducted in two or three phases,” Nitish suggested to the EC.

“The JD (U) will write a letter to build consensus on this issue. Besides, the EC should try to hold polls in Nov-Dec or Feb-March, as conducting elections in this hot and humid weather affects voters’ turnout,” argued Nitish.

Meanwhile, polling was peaceful in Bihar for the eight Lok Sabha constituencies, barring a few sporadic incidents in rural areas.

The fate of four Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad (Patna Sahib), RK Singh (Ara), Ram Kripal Yadav (Pataliputra) and Ashwini Choubey (Buxar) has been sealed after today’s polling. The fate of Congress leaders Meira Kumar, Shatrughan Sinha and RJD leader Misa Bharti too was sealed after Sunday voting.

CAMERAMAN ASSAULTED

Meanwhile, a personal security guard of Lalu’s elder son Tej Pratap assaulted cameraperson Ranjan Rahi after he had a brawl with the driver of the battery-operated three-wheeler in which Tej came to vote. Instead of condemning the incident, Tej accused the journalist of having damaged his SUV, accompanying him.

LALU ABSENT

While former Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her family members exercised their franchise, RJD chief Lalu Prasad could not cast his vote. This is the first time that Lalu has not voted in any election as he is recuperating in Ranchi hospital following his incarceration in the fodder scam.