Strong social combination led to grand alliance victory:Sushil

Image
Press Trust of India Patna
Last Updated : Nov 08 2015 | 7:57 PM IST
Accepting defeat in Bihar, BJP's state unit today said that the 'grand alliance' emerged as a "strong social combination" and that the party would analyse its results and poll strategy by visiting every constituency in the coming days.
Expressing satisfaction with a clear mandate, senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the party would play the role of a constructive opposition and would cooperate with the new government in Bihar.
He described RJD leader Lalu Prasad as a 'king maker' and 'Big Boss' who, he said, would have a major influence on the new government.
"People have given a clear mandate to the grand alliance. It is good that there is no fractured mandate. It is important for Bihar as it has put to end an atmosphere of political uncertainty. We respect the mandate of the people and bow before it," Modi said, addressing a press conference.
On the reasons for the NDA's defeat, he said, "I think they were successful in putting together a strong alliance. One of the reasons why they were successful is that their alliance
was a strong 'social combination'."
"Because it is a clear mandate for five years given to the grand alliance, we will help the government with our support and will play the role of a constructive opposition. We hope the government works towards development. I congratulate all the leaders of grand alliance and have called both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad," he said.
On Lalu Prasad, whose RJD won the highest number of seats, Modi said, "It is understandable that he will have more influence on the government. He will have more ministers."
Modi also said it was a "cause for worry" that the tally of Nitish Kumar's JD(U) has come down to half from 115 seats, and took a dig at his arrogance saying the comments made at the grand alliance press conference "were not expected of them".
He, however, did not comment on Lalu's unsavoury remarks made against the BJP and its leadership, saying "this is not the time for all this."
Asked if reservation or caste factor has played a role in these polls, he said, "We will have to assess what are the reasons... Caste is always the factor, be it any state. It may not be the only factor.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 08 2015 | 7:57 PM IST

Next Story