'Nitish Kumar in BJP's lap': Congress takes shot at Bihar CM; claims top post will go to party's 'chela'

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday launched a sharp attack on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).He claimed that if the NDA retains power in the state, the saffron party will not reappoint Kumar as CM, alleging that the post would instead be handed to one of its “chelas (foot soldiers)”Addressing his first rally in Bihar’s Vaishali district, the Congress leader accused Nitish of betraying the legacy of socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur by aligning with the BJP.He alleged that the saffron party, which believes in “Manu Smriti,” has “no concern for Dalits, OBCs or women.”"Nitish Kumar is sitting in the lap of the BJP, which believes in Manu Smriti. He has given up on JP, Lohia and Thakur. He cannot champion the cause of Dalits, OBCs and EBCs," Kharge claimed.The Congress president questioned Nitish Kumar’s alliance with the BJP, suggesting that the chief minister’s position within the NDA was uncertain and that the party would eventually sideline him."But Nitish Kumar is not aware that after the elections, the BJP is not going to make him the CM again and instead, it will give the post to some 'chela' (foot soldier) of theirs," Kharge added.Kharge went on to allege that Dalits were being intimidated and threatened across the country, including in Bihar."Modi and Nitish have no concern for Dalits at all, they only care about their chairs. That is why all of us need to stay vigilant and not compromise on our self-respect," he said.He mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for carrying out an extensive campaign in the state “as if it were his son’s wedding” and accused him of ignoring issues affecting ordinary citizens."The PM has time to tour the world but not to take stock of the state of affairs in his country, where he is seen only at the time of elections. You can see Modi roaming through the streets of a city even during municipal polls. Even during Bihar assembly elections, he is so busy as if it is his son's wedding," Kharge said in a jibe. The Congress chief also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance record. He said that despite serving as Gujarat’s chief minister for 13.5 years and as prime minister for nearly 12 years, PM Modi “could not develop either the state or the nation.”"Narendra Modi served as the chief minister of Gujarat for nearly 13.5 years and he has been in the position of prime minister for the last 12 years. The man who, even after being in power for so many years, could not change the condition of the country, nor his own state... will you vote for him again? Most of the time, he remains outside the country. Therefore, cast your vote in the right place," he alleged.Taking a dig at Kumar’s long tenure, the Congress president said, "Nitish took oath as Bihar's CM nine times and ruled the state for 20 years, still he couldn't provide jobs or stop out-migration of youth."He also accused the NDA government in Bihar of scams worth Rs 70,000 crore, citing a CAG report and questioned why the alliance still invokes “jungle raj” after two decades in power.Kharge further claimed that 50 lakh posts were lying vacant in central government departments and questioned PM Modi’s 2014 poll promise of providing two crore jobs every year.Concluding his speech, he said the country is witnessing “a carnival of lies” where “anyone who dares to ask questions is branded anti-national.”"It is a carnival of lies in which truth stands alone. Anyone who dares to asks questions is branded an anti-national," he said.The Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases, with polling on November 6 and 11 and the results to be declared on November 14.