Bihar: Min says lack of local leadership led to BJP's loss

Union Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh today attributed BJP's loss in Bihar polls to the tie-up between Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD and lack of a strong local leadership in the party's state unit.
On veteran BJP leaders holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for the loss, Singh said Modi is still the "tallest leader" and "the largest vote-catcher" of the party.
"The alliance between Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and his political rival for over 30 years Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD was the reason behind the BJP's drubbing in Bihar polls," the Union Rural Development Minister said.
The party lacking strong local leadership in the state too contributed to the loss, he added.

Meanwhile, on talks of appointing a Deputy Chief Minister in Haryana, Singh said, "In a small state like this there is no need for such a post."
"All powers lie with the Chief Minister, there is nothing called Deputy CM. Today there is demand for one Deputy Chief Minister, tomorrow there would be calls for two and then for a Dalit for that post," he said.
The Union Rural Development Minister said the government was planning to build a super-highway from Delhi to Katra via Rohtak, Jind and Ludhiana which, he said, would lead Jind towards industrial development.
"Centre is giving primacy towards providing housing for everyone. To achieve this, around 2 crore 95 lakh houses would be built in the next few years," the Union Minister said while addressing a programme at Danoda village in this district.