Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday took a dig at Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying that he is traveling abroad, visiting the country, but is not coming to Bihar before the Bihar Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters, the UP Deputy Chief Minister said, “Rahul Gandhi is traveling abroad, touring the country, but is not coming to Bihar. Tejashwi Yadav is insulting his coalition partner. So whatever is happening, I believe it is good for Bihar. People who used to give him 20, 25 seats, maybe now they will yearn for that too.”
Earlier today, Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) on Saturday attacked the grand alliance over reports of projecting Tejashwi Yadav as Bihar chief ministerial candidate and said even the alliance has not confirmed it.
Chirag Paswan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Patna and discussed strategies to secure key constituencies ahead of the 243-seat Bihar Assembly elections. Bihar Assembly elections are to be held on November 6 and 11 and counting of votes will take place on November 14.
Talking to reporters, Paswan said that a coalition suffering from internal strife cannot develop. He warned that people would not accept such leadership before the state elections.
He said, “Who says that Tejashwi Yadav’s name (as the chief ministerial candidate) is fixed, while even the alliance is not saying that Tejashwi is fixed. People will not accept him. An alliance which has so many internal fights cannot develop Bihar.”
Meanwhile, the Congress party released its first list of 48 candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
According to an official statement issued on Thursday, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Rajesh Ram will contest from Kutumba assembly seat, while Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan will contest from Kadwa constituency.
Of the total 48 candidates, 24 will contest in the first phase of elections and 24 in the second phase of elections. The party said that the remaining names will be announced in due course of time.
The list approved by the Central Election Committee (CEC) includes Jayesh Mangal Singh from Bagaha, Amit Giri from Nautan, Abhishek Ranjan from Chanpatia, Wasi Ahmed from Bettiah, Amit Kumar Singh ‘Tunna’ from Riga, Chandan Yadav from Khagaria and Ajit Kumar Sharma from Bhagalpur.
