Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took a sharp swipe at the Congress party on Thursday, accusing them of impeding the fight against the BJP and prioritizing their interests in the upcoming assembly elections in five states.
Speaking at the ‘Bhajpa Hatao, Desh Bachao’ rally organized by the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Patna, Nitish expressed his frustration with the Congress, claiming they were more focused on the forthcoming assembly polls in five states and had diverted their attention from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) that was established to lead the movement against the BJP.
“The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance has been formed, and we have entrusted the responsibility of spearheading the movement. But they do not seem to be bothered at present because they are more focused on the assembly polls going to be held in five states. No discussion is being held on the national level lately,” Nitish said.
The Bihar CM remained hopeful that the Congress would refocus its efforts on the national level after the conclusion of the state elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram.
During the rally, Nitish also launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing them of neglecting the principles of the freedom struggle and attempting to erase the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. He further criticized the government for allegedly trying to divide society along religious lines, emphasizing the need to discourage such actions.
The ‘Bhajpa Hatao, Desh Bachao’ rally, which drew the presence of CM Nitish and Minister Vijay Chaudhary, was initially scheduled to take place at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. However, it was relocated to the Miller School ground due to the state government’s teachers’ appointment letter distribution program.
This event marked a significant return for the CPI, as they organized a substantial rally in Patna after a five-year hiatus. Their previous rally at Gandhi Maidan on October 25, 2018, saw the participation of prominent Congress leaders and laid the foundation for opposition unity. Notably, CM Nitish was part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during that period.
In terms of political representation in Bihar, the CPI currently lacks a single Member of Parliament (MP). The party has only two Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) – Suryakant Paswan from Bakhri and Ramjatan Singh from Teghra. In 1996, the CPI secured four parliamentary seats in Bihar, but since then, the party has been unable to secure a significant electoral victory in the state.
