Bihar Election 2020: Chirag Paswan is contesting the state elections alone this time.
Days before the Bihar elections, the largest since the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Lok Janata Party chief Chirag Paswan continued to attack Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. This morning, he took aim at the head of the JDU for the state’s alcohol ban, an electoral promise that was implemented after the 2015 state elections.
“In the name of the liquor ban, the people of Bihar are being labeled as smugglers. Bihar women, sisters and mothers, do not want theirs to become smugglers. Along with the Prime Minister of Bihar, all the Other ministers know that the state is seeing an increase in alcohol smuggling amid rising unemployment … but it seems that everyone has taken a vow of silence, “Chirag Paswan tweeted this morning.
Alcohol was banned in the state in 2016, months after Nitish Kumar was elected as the prime minister for the third term. According to the prime minister, the prohibition of alcohol, which has also received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past, “has brought countless benefits and the quality of life for people has improved.”
Earlier this year, the head of the JDU had promoted a national alcohol ban while addressing an event in Delhi. “(The liquor ban) should not only be implemented in nearby states but also across the country. It was Mahatma Gandhi’s wish, he had said that liquor destroys lives,” Kumar said.
Chirag Paswan, who this time is contesting the Bihar elections separately from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has been constantly attacking Nitish Kumar, raising questions about his leadership and government.
On Thursday, he suggested Nitish Kumar could re-align himself with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD, which he had left a few years ago. “In the latest assembly polls, the respected @ NitishKumar became the prime minister with the blessings of the respected @laluprasadrjd, who he left and took the seat again with the blessings of the prime minister,” Paswan tweeted.
“May I not run to @laluprasadrjd again, seeking refuge, after receiving the blessings of @narendramodi,” he added.
Yesterday, he launched a new and more acute threat to the Chief Minister. “I did not say that I would send Nitish Kumar to jail, but if I come to power, I will have the scams in his saat nishchay (seven resolutions) scheme investigated and anyone guilty will be sent to jail, even if he is the Chief Minister.” Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader told NDTV.
Although BJP leaders in Bihar have criticized Paswan and even “warned” him not to use the prime minister in his campaign, Delhi leaders have been notably reluctant to tell the LJP leader publicly. For weeks it has been speculated that the BJP is secretly backing Paswan as a counterweight to keeping Nitish Kumar in check after the results of the Bihar elections.
Bihar votes for a new assembly of 243 members on October 28, November 3 and 7. The results will be announced on November 10.
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