Patna: In a strategic move to invigorate the opposition’s stance in the lead-up to the impending Lok Sabha elections next year, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad on Thursday announced a grand rally to be held at the historic Gandhi Maidan at Patna.
Notably, Lalu did not specify a date for this anticipated rally, which he unveiled while addressing an event commemorating the 136th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shri Krishna Singh. The event took place at the state headquarters of the Congress party, situated at Sadaqat Ashram in Patna.
Lalu expressed firm conviction that the BJP would face a resounding defeat in the upcoming general elections and is unlikely to make significant headway in the forthcoming state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.
Lalu emphasized the gravity of the current situation in the country, asserting that the nation faces a crisis marked by communal forces actively challenging the fabric of the Constitution. “It is in response to this critical juncture that the INDIA alliance was formed, bringing together a coalition of opposition parties,” he said.
The former Bihar chief minister further stated that the BJP is apprehensive about its diminishing prospects at the national level and sought to dispel concerns regarding the leadership of the INDIA alliance. He assured that the appointment of a leader would be a straightforward process and that the coalition’s shared motto, “Bhajpa Bhagao, Desh Bachao” (remove BJP, save the country), will reverberate throughout the nation, leading to the eventual sidelining of the BJP and RSS.
Lalu voiced strong allegations of the BJP’s misuse of central agencies to target opposition leaders, contending that the party is preoccupied with litigation, yielding no substantial gains.
Furthermore, Lalu advocated for a caste census to be conducted nationwide, stating that the decision is supported by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and would extend beyond Bihar. “This call for a comprehensive caste survey aligns with the gathering momentum of demands for accurate demographic data,” he said.
The event, where Lalu made these significant declarations, featured prominent figures including former Lok Sabha Speaker and Congress leader Meira Kumar, Pramod Tiwari, Tariq Anwar, Bhakta Charan Das, the party’s Bihar in-charge, and state president Akhilesh Singh.
In response to these developments, senior BJP functionary and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi (SuMo) queried the absence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is an ally of Lalu, from the event hosted by the Congress. He humorously alluded to the possibility of Lalu Prasad influencing Nitish to secure more seats for the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections.
SuMo also raised questions about Lalu’s communication with Sonia Gandhi, given that mobile phones are not allowed in jail. SuMo’s question was about Lalu’s statement that the latter had called Sonia from Ranchi jail to make Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Singh a member of parliament (MP).
