RSS throws weight behind BJP ahead of Bihar polls

Patna: Given the high political stakes, the RSS has thrown its weight behind the BJP ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, with the BJP even enlisting three RSS `pracharaks` among its 40 star campaigners.

Not only this, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader from Jharkhand, Rajendra Singh, has since been fielded from Dina assembly constituency as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate.

"The RSS has fully thrown its weight behind the BJP in Bihar polls. Thousands of RSS cadres and supporters from different parts of the country have been working to help the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance to defeat the grand alliance of the Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress," a BJP leader said.

"RSS leaders Ram Lal, Saudan Singh and Nagender-ji will campaign in all 243 assembly constituencies and address public meetings to garner votes for BJP candidates," another senior BJP leader told IANS.

The BJP is contesting 160 assembly seats, with ally Lok Janshakti Party 40, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party 23, and Hindustani Awami Morcha 20 seats.

JD-U spokesperson Sanjay Singh said the RSS was undoubtedly backing the BJP in the polls. "However, it may be a new development in Bihar polls that RSS leaders will be star campaigners for the BJP," he said.

Sanjay Singh said senior party leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had rightly described the RSS as the supreme court of the BJP. "It is the RSS that controlss the BJP and its governments," he remarked.