Bihar mandate a victory of secular forces: Cong, CPI(M)

Congress and CPI(M) leaders in Kerala today hailed the Bihar mandate as a victory of secular and democratic forces over "communal" politics of BJP-RSS.
"The Bihar poll result is a victory of unity over divisiveness," Congress leader and state Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.
"It is a victory of humility over arrogance and love over hate," Chandy said, adding that "it is a victory of the people of Bihar."
Congratulating AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad, who led the grand alliance, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the verdict would strengthen the secular-democratic forces in the country.

"This is a lesson to the communal fascist forces in the country", he said.
Reacting to the verdict, KPCC President V M Sudheeran said it was a severe setback to the "communal" policies of BJP-RSS.

Taking a dig at CPI(M) that refused to be part of the Grand Alliance, Sudheeran said Communist parties' "opportunistic" stand of giving strength to communal forces by dividing secular groups was also exposed in the Bihar polls.
CPI(M) state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan congratulated JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad and others for working towards the victory of the alliance.
"The Bihar mandate is a pointer to the coming changes in national politics. The Grand Alliance has turned into an alternative to take on challenges posed by RSS in the country," he said.

The verdict was a "slap" for the intolerance of RSS and victory of secular forces. It was also an indication that communal forces that are in power in the country could be kicked out if secular and democratic forces unite and stand together, he said.
In a congratulatory e-mail message to JD(U) and RJD leaders, CPI(M) veteran and opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly V S Achuthanandan said that "Bihar poll results clearly established that people were with secular forces and not with fascist outfits."
The mandate also brought into focus the need for unity of secular and democratic forces in the country, he said.