Verdict for NDA in Bihar to be push for development: M Venkaiah Naidu

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said that a favourable verdict for NDA in Bihar Assembly polls would be a push for development as it would boost its numbers in Rajya Sabha and help the passing of crucial reform Bills.

"Bihar Assembly polls is significant and linked with development of the country as a favourable verdict for the NDA here will shore up its number in Rajya Sabha and enable the ruling coalition at the Centre to push through crucial legislations, including the GST, in Parliament to bring more reforms in the Indian economy," the Union Urban Development Minister told reporters here.

Ruing that NDA does not have the majority now to get crucial legislations, including GST, passed in Rajya Sabha, Naidu charged opposition parties Congress, JD(U) and the Left with stalling proceedings in the Upper House to "prevent the government from discharging its duties".

The Assembly polls holds equal importance for Bihar and its future with the NDA under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership seeking mandate on development plank. "The other contender, secular alliance represents destruction and it was for the people to decide what they want," he said.

The senior BJP leader mocked at the secular alliance for being a 'disparage group' and said nobody knew how long it would last.

If the secular alliance was elected to power in the state, the incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance, would be "only a mask".

"The real control will be with somebody else about whom everybody knows." "Such a government with the chief minister being a mask and the real power lying with somebody else will not function," Naidu claimed.

On NDA's chief ministerial choice in the event of it being elected to power, he said BJP's parliamentary board would take the final decision on it.

"BJP had selected its chief ministers in states like Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand after the conclusion of Assembly polls and the same practice will be followed in Bihar too," he said.

On Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar sparking off controversy by reportedly telling Muslims to refrain from eating beef, Naidu said his remarks were not BJP's views.

Khattar has, however, said that he was not quoted properly by the reporter, he added.