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Leaders of the Left parties on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "jungle raj ka yuvraaj (crown prince)" jibe aimed at Tejashwi Yadav, whose Rashtriya Janata Dal heads the five-party opposition grand alliance in Bihar.
At a press conference which was addressed jointly by secretary generals of CPI(M) and CPI, Sitaram Yechury and D Raja respectively, besides CPI(ML) politburo member Kavita Krishnan, the leaders alleged that the epithet "rule of the jungle" was more apt for the administration in adjoining Uttar Pradesh headed by firebrand BJP leader Yogi Adityanath.
(PTI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Thursday backed population-based reservation for castes, but said it can only be implemented after census data is available.
Addressing a poll rally here, he also attacked the RJD over its record on law and order, and ridiculed Tejashwi Yadavs promise of 10 lakh jobs.
He repeatedly told the people that his government has worked for the development of Bihar with the cooperation of the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha seat will go for by-poll on November 7.
The by-election has been necessitated there due to death of JD(U) MP Baidyanath Mahto. Kumar headed party has nominted Mahto's son Sunil Kumar from the seat.
"And as far as the question of population is concernedthat is decided only after census and that decision (on census) is not in our hands. We would like that reservation be proportionate to population of castes. We have no two opinions on it," he said.
The coronavirus scare failed to impact the turnout in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly election with 55.69 per cent of the nearly 2.15 crore eligible voters having exercised their franchise on Wednesday.
According to the Election Commission, as compared to the corresponding assembly segments which went to poll in the 2015 state elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the turnout this time was higher.
(PTI)
Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday exuded confidence that the BJP's dream of forming governments in Eastern Indian states will be ended in the assembly election in Bihar as the Grand Alliance, of which his party is a constituent, will post a "historic victory" in the state.
He also said that the Grand Alliance is now setting agenda for Bihar's development as its promise of sanctioning 10 lakh government jobs at the first cabinet meeting after coming to power was followed up by the BJP which said it will offer to people 19 lakh employments.
The Grand Alliance consists of the RJD, the Congress and three Left parties.
"We (Grand Alliance) will post a historic victory in Bihar assembly elections and it is going to have its impact on the country's polity. The BJP has plans to expand its footprint to the eastern part of the country especially in West Bengal, Assam. But we will stop them firmly in Bihar itself," Pilot told reporters here.
West Bengal is now ruled by the Trinamool Congress while Assam is governed by a coalition headed by the BJP. Assembly elections in both states are likely to be held between March and May next year.
(PTI)