Nitish joined hands with Congress to become PM: Amit Shah

BJP today launched a scathing attack on JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, accusing him of breaking ties with it to pursue his 'personal ambition' of becoming prime minister even as it asserted that its 'Vijay Rath' would roll in Bihar when Assembly polls are held there later this year.

BJP President Amit Shah, who is in Bihar for the first time after assuming charge of the party, attacked Kumar, a former Bihar Chief Minister, as well RJD Chief Lalu Prasad, with whom he has joined hands.

While Shah focussed all his attack on Kumar and Lalu, he spared Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose recent statements have given rise to squabbling within JD(U). A war of words between Manjhi and Kumar has also led to simmering hostility between the chief minister and his mentor.

Shah chose the birth anniversary of veteran socialist leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur to attack his two principal disciples -- Prasad and Kumar -- whose parties, both offshoots of the old Janata Parivar, have come together.

He accused Prasad and Kumar of going against the teachings of Thakur by joining hands with Congress, the party which, Shah said, the veteran socialist leader had fought all his life.

"To gain power, they are taking the help of Congress... You (Kumar, Prasad) have no right to take the name of the late Karpoori Thakur," Shah said at the meeting held at the Veterinary College grounds here.

Bihar would go to the hustings later this year. The state would also be a major test for regional parties as they try to regroup against BJP, which won a thumping victory in the Lok Sabha election.

"BJP's Vijay Rath will roll in the state later this year," said Shah, who was flanked by Union ministers hailing from Bihar and senior state leaders like Sushil Kumar Modi and Nand Kishore Yadav.

As Shah was in the Bihar state capital looking to push BJP's cause in Bihar, Kumar was away to Azizpur village in Muzaffarpur district to meet victims of Sunday's arson.