KHARGE DENIES PM’S CLAIM THAT RJD STOLE CM’S POST FROM CONGRESS
NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that Bihar’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) “stole” the Chief Minister’s post from the Congress, which the PM claimed led to a rift in the Mahagathbandhan alliance.
“All of this is a lie. He [PM Modi] has nothing else to say. I will answer this today in Bihar. What he is saying is a lie. Nobody will tell someone else to make someone the CM at gunpoint. Congress has never done this,” Kharge said in Delhi before flying to Bihar for campaigning. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also campaigned in Bihar separately on Monday.
Kharge said such statements demean the office of the Prime Minister. He said: “Modi ji is the PM of this country; his saying such things is laughable. This shows his level. He sets aside the level at which a PM should speak and is making election speeches in Bihar.”
Modi claimed the Mahagathbandhan was “forced” to announce Tejaswi Yadav as their CM face amid pressure.
He said: “Today for Viksit Bihar the whole NDA is together and moving forward, but on the other hand Congress and RJD are fighting. Today I will tell you insider information. Just a day before nomination filing, behind closed doors, gundagardi [hooliganism] was happening. Congress did not want to have an RJD CM, but RJD did not leave the opportunity. They put a gun on Congress’ head and stole the CM’s post. They made sure of an announcement,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi further claimed that Congress is being sidelined by the RJD, alleging that their opinions were not taken for their manifesto, “Tejashwi ka Pran”. The PM once again invoked the era of RJD’s infamous “jungle raaj” and said it was defined by “katta, grirta, katuta, kusanskar, kushashan, and corruption”.
Voting for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14.
