Nitish, Lalu all set for mega rally

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad are actively wooing supporters to make their August 30 campaign rally here a success.

The event will be their first big show of unity a year after the two leaders joined hands in a bid to defeat the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state.

Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad, Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav and senior Congress leaders are all monitoring the preparations for the Gandhi Maidan rally.

Lalu Prasad is busy addressing meetings in rural areas of districts close to Patna and asking his supporters to attend the rally, leaders from his Rashtriya Janata Dal said.

Nitish Kumar has visited half-a-dozen districts, including his home district Nalanda. He has also in the past one week laid foundation stones and launched projects, RJD leader Shakti Yadav said.

Lalu Prasad's sons Tejaswvi and Tejpratap as well as senior RJD and JD-U leaders are visiting rural areas to invite supporters to the rally.

Sharad Yadav said the "Swabhiman rally" of the grand alliance would be an answer to "Modi's arrogance and repeated insult to Bihar".

Nitish Kumar has been saying at all meetings: "I have done whatever I could in the last 10 years and wish to do more... Give me a chance. There is more I want to achieve."

JD-U leader Ajay Alok said: "We have been mobilizing party leaders, workers and supporters to persuade people in large number to attend the rally."

In an attempt to consolidate his social base, Nitish Kumar has backed the protests by the Patel community in Gujarat demanding its inclusion in the OBC category.

Modi has already addressed three 'Parivartan rallies' in Muzaffarpur, Gaya and Saharsa ahead of the assembly polls. He will speak at yet another rally in Bhagalpur on September 1.