New Delhi, Oct 23 : Independent MP Pappu Yadav on Thursday called on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to join the Mahagathbandhan, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “stabbing him from behind.” Yadav emphasized that despite the political tension, the alliance continues to respect Kumar and values his leadership in the state.
Speaking to ANI, he said, “I invite him because the BJP is stabbing him from behind. BJP is finishing him. Our leaders have always respected him. He is being stabbed from behind, but we have a lot of respect for him.”
However, Yadav raised concerns about campaign materials of the Mahagathbandhan, particularly the emphasis on RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s image. “Voting will be done on Rahul Gandhi’s picture only and not on anyone else’s picture… Pictures of all three leaders of the alliance should have been there. This is not right, and it will not send the right message… We can win Bihar only on the face of Rahul Gandhi. We have no other way to win here,” he said.
In contrast, RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari reaffirmed Tejashwi Yadav as the undisputed face of the alliance. “Bihar mein Tejashwi hi Tejashwi hai. The people of Bihar know that they are going to vote on Tejashwi Yadav’s promises, intentions, and resolutions on 243 seats. The public has already approved Tejashwi Yadav as CM. The rest are formalities and all that will also be completed. The people of Bihar have accepted Tejashwi Yadav as their Chief Minister. The people of Bihar have faith in Tejashwi Yadav,” Tiwari stated.
The Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), includes the Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) [CPI-ML] led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM], and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).
The rival NDA alliance comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP (RV)], Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM(S)], and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM).
Polling for the Bihar Assembly elections is scheduled for November 6 and 11, with vote counting set for November 14.