Nitish Kumar backstabbed George Fernandes, says PM Modi

Asserting that the NDA is committed to the agenda of development and prosperity in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday alleged that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar backstabbed George Fernandes and left Jayaprakash Narayan due to his ego.

"The disciple of Ram Manohar Lohia, who had fought a battle against the Congress, has sat in the Congress' foot, which the people of Bihar will not tolerate. The people, who had wiped out the Congress after 35 years and Lalu Prasad Yadav after 15 years, will write off Nitish just in 10 years," he said while addressing an election rally here for the fifth and final phase of polling for the Bihar assembly elections.

"The people of Bihar trusted the Congress Party for 35 years and voted for it, but when they started taking stock of their tenure they wiped the Congress out of the state. As a result, the Congress is nowhere in Bihar for the past 25 years," he said.

Taking a dig at the Congress' "precarious" condition in the state, Prime Minister Modi said: "Now, the Congress Party is contesting on 40 seats, which will come to the BJP's pocket because the Congress is nowhere."

"Congress contestants took with them bags full of money, saying they would save it for the future of their children because they know nothing would be left for them," he said.

Prime Minister Modi also lashed out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, saying the people gave him a befitting reply after imposing their trust on him for three consecutive terms.

"Similarly, the people of Bihar trusted former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and voted him to power for three consecutive terms. But, after trusting him so much, when they found that he had done no good to Bihar, their third eye opened and Lalu was wiped out too," he said.

The Prime Minister also addressed election rallies at Madhubani and Katihar.

Meanwhile, polling for the fourth phase passed off peacefully barring sporadic incidents in Bihar.

Brisk voting has been registered with an estimated over 55 percent voters have exercised franchise till 4 pm. Maximum over 60 percent voting has been reported from West Champaran. East Champaran and Gopalganj recorded 56 percent each, Siwan 50 percent, Sheohar, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur each registered 55 percentage voting

The fifth and final phase of polling will be on November 5 and counting of votes will be on November 8.