New Delhi: Giving clear indications of its
opposition to Narendra Modi and Varun Gandhi campaigning in
Bihar for the upcoming Assembly Elections, JD-U Sunday said the
"old arrangement will continue both in seat sharing as well
election campaign."
"The arrangement between BJP and JD-U during previous
Assembly Election will continue even in this election in the
matter of seat-sharing. Regarding campaign also, the old
arrangement is applicable," JD-U president Sharad Yadav told
reporters here after the conclusion of the two-day national
executive of the party.
He was responding to questions whether JD-U have any
objections to Narendra Modi campaigning in the state for the
Assembly Elections.
Modi had not campaigned for NDA in Bihar in any
election after the Godhra riots of 2002. JD-U, which has been
consistently making attempts to woo Muslim electorates in the
state, had strongly opposed to Modi`s coming to Bihar for even
Lok Sabha Election campaign in 2009.
Asked to specify whether he is ruling out the
possibility of Modi campaigning there, Yadav said he has made
the position "very clear and there are better ways to say
anything".
To a query on whether the party will prevent BJP MP
Varun Gandhi, who had raked up a controversy with his hate
speech during last Lok Sabha Election, from campaigning in
Bihar, Yadav shot back, "Who is Varun Gandhi."
Sources said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,
in his concluding speech during the meet today, also said the
election arrangement for BJP and JD-U in Bihar will be a
continuance of the past both in number of seats to be
contested by each party as well as election campaign strategy.
Kumar also justified his returning the flood relief
money given by Gujarat government for Kosi in June this year
in wake of the controversy over newspaper advertisements
lauding Gujarat`s liberal help for flood victims of Bihar and
posters showing Kumar sharing dais with Modi, they said.
Reaching out to Muslims, the JD-U had also sought a
sub-plan for Muslims on lines of the tribal sub-plan to
provide a dedicated fund for areas dominated by the community.
It also sought implementation of Rangnath Mishra
Commission report, which has recommended reservation for
Muslims as well as Scheduled Caste status to Dalits among
Christians and Muslims, to which BJP is strongly opposed.
Yadav, however, downplayed differences between the two
parties saying, "Our alliance is very old. It will continue."
The party passed a total of six resolutions in the
last two days on political, Centre-state relationship,
corruption, foreign policy, achievements of the alliance
government in last five years and the last seeking special
state category for Bihar.
PTI
