Lalu, Nitish share dais, take on Modi

Vote judiciously in Assembly bypolls, they tell electorate

In what could be perceived as the political reunion of the year, two regional satraps Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar on Monday shared a dais after a gap of 20 years.

Putting all speculations about their differences to rest, the two leaders launched a joint campaign for the Assembly bypolls in Hajipur with both canvassing for JD(U) nominee Rajendra Rai. 

Rai is backed by the RJD and the Congress. The two erstwhile protégés of late Jayaprakash Narayan missed no chance in poking fun at Narendra Modi’s “achche din” promise.

Nitish was more scathing when it came to slamming the prime minister. He said the man who promised to control inflation and price rise is perhaps unaware that “these days petrol is cheaper than tomato”.

“Jhoot ki kheti kar ke janta ko dhoka diya hai inhone (By spreading falsehood, he has befooled people in the name of ushering in achche din). Only BJP leaders, and not common people, are getting the feel of achche din, because the man who rode to power is not going to deliver as promised,” Nitish lashed out at Modi, without taking his name even once.

The inimitable Lalu, on the other hand, had the crowd in splits when he cited how inauspicious Modi’s swearing-in was.

“His swearing in as prime minister started with a train accident, followed by drowning of Hyderabad students in Himachal, attack on border areas, drought in parts of Bihar, train fare hike, price rise…and when he went to Nepal, there was the Kosi flood threat,” Lalu said, as the audience had a hearty laugh.

On a serious note, he continued, “Now listen carefully. The Mandal (read Lalu-Nitish) has ganged up against Kamandal (read: BJP) who promised you that they will uproot corruption, check price rise, bring back black money and create job opportunities. The BJP has only befooled you.”