Lalu dares BJP to declare Paswan chief ministerial candidate

RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Thursday dared BJP to declare its ally, LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswas as the NDA's chief ministerial in the Bihar polls.

"If BJP has so much concern and pain for Dalits and marginalized, it should declare Paswan as the chief ministerial candidate of the NDA in the polls," he said at a press conference after chairing a meet of the Rashtriya Janata Dal parliamentary board to discuss and finalise the list of candidates for the polls.

Lalu Prasad also said that the grand alliance of the RJD, the Janata Dal-United and Congress will announce the list of their candidates soon. "We are contesting polls together, it is not a case of single party this time."

He expressed his special sympathy for the Lok Janshakti Party chief saying that Paswan was harassed by the Bharatiya Janata Party as seen in the seat sharing formula. "Paswan is in trouble following the seat sharing," he claimed.

Asked why not he had not demanded former chief minister and Hindustani Awami Morcha president Jitan Ram Manjhi, a Mahadalit, as the national Democratic Alliance's chief minister candidate, Lalu Prasad said Manjhi has lost his credibility.

He also claimed that the BJP will be finished in the Bihar polls, and the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's countdown will began from here.

"I appeal to youths of OBCs (other backward classes), particularly Yaduvanshi, Dalits and minorities to uproot BJP in the polls. If OBCs, Dalits, minorities and poor among upper castes unite, it will ensure a BJP-free country," he said.