Ranchi, Dec 15 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Tuesday appealed to the people of Jharkhand to vote for a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the state as a birthday gift to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
“It was Atal-ji who initiated the process of a separate Jharkhand state and gifted the people a new state in 2000 by carving out Jharkhand from Bihar. The counting of votes will take place on Dec 23 and Atal-ji’s birthday is on Dec 25…I appeal to the people of Jharkhand to gift an NDA government to Vaypayee-ji on his birthday,” Rajnath Singh said while talking to reporters here.

“In 2005, people had supported the BJP and it emerged as the single largest party by getting 30 of the 81 assembly seats. This time I appeal to them to vote for a stable government and give a clear mandate. Only NDA can provide stable and good governance in the state,” the BJP president said.

“Two top Congress leaders were missing in the fourth and fifth phase of the poll campaign as they know the mind of the people,” he added, hinting at Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Asked if there would be an alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) after the results, Singh said: “There will be no alliance with JMM. I am confident NDA would get majority.”

Five-phase assembly polls are under way in Jharkhand. While the first four are over, the fifth and final stage of polling is to be held Dec 18 and votes will be counted Dec 23.