Sticking to plan, Lalu Prasad & allies speak in unison against BJP

NEW DELHI: RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s rally in Patna aiming at uniting the Opposition against the BJP drew an impressive crowd on Sunday despite some big leaders giving it a miss.

While a recorded message of Congress president was played at the ‘Desh bachao, BJP bhagao (save the country, oust the BJP) rally, Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhari read out the message from Rahul Gandhi. Both appealed to people dislodge BJP from power.

BSP chief Mayawati, Janata Dal(S) leader HD Devegowda did not attend while those present included West Bengal CM Mamata Banarjee, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, CPI leader D Raja, and Jharkhand leaders Babu Lal Maranadi and Hemant Soren. The presence of JDU rebels-Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwarwas seen as a boost to RJD.


BSP had made clear earlier that it would share dais with Opposition leaders only after agreement on seat sharing for 2019 polls. In the first rally after Nitish Kumar and Lalu parted ways, almost all speakers targeted PM Narendra Modi and appealed to people to dislodge the BJP from power in 2019.

Accusing the Centre of using central agencies against Opposition leaders, Banerjee said: “Ham Darte Nahin Hai. Ladna Pasand Karte Hai. (We don’t fear anyone. We love to fight).”

She also spoke about her previous visits to Bihar, including that for attending the oath ceremony of CM Nitish Kumar in 2015. Earlier, Lalu Prasad invited Mamata to deliver her speech by calling out ‘Mamata Didi, Zinadabad’.

Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad reminded the people about the success of opposition parties’ in Bihar, saying: “In 2015, PM Modi toured the state extensively, his ministers camped for more than a month. BJP spent money like anything, yet Mahagathbandhan emerged victorious.”

UP’ former CM Akhilesh Yadav underlined the need for working together to save the country. He added poor and farmers are suffering the most in the NDA rule.