Thaindian News

Patna, Oct 5 (IANS) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Tuesday dared Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi to contest the state assembly elections against his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi.

Rabri Devi, a sitting legislator from Raghopur constituency, plans to contest from two constituencies.

“I challenge Nitish Kumar and Modi to contest against Rabri Devi from each seat if they have people support,” Lalu Prasad said at a press meet where leaders of the minority cell of the Janata Dal-United joined the RJD.

Lalu Prasad took on his political rivals a day after Modi, who is the chairman of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) election campaign committee, commented about the RJD’s decision to field Rabri Devi from two constituencies.

Modi said the decision reflected Lalu Prasad’s lack of confidence in voters.

He said that by fielding Rabri Devi from two constituencies, the RJD had accepted defeat even before the first vote was cast in the six-phase assembly elections.

Both Nitish Kumar and Modi decided last month not to contest the assembly polls as they are members of the legislative council.

Lalu Prasad said that Rabri Devi was not only a “nari” (woman) but a “chingari” (fire) in politics. “Modi should know that Rabri is a ‘chingari’,” he said.

He announced that she will file her nomination papers Wednesday from both the seats. He said he will launch his election campaign on the same day.

The RJD has decided that Rabri Devi will contest from Raghopur constituency in Vaishali district and Sonepur constituency in Chapra district in the election’s third phase starting Oct 28.

Rabri Devi, in her mid-50s, was the chief minister of Bihar from 1997 to 2005. She was the first and the only woman chief minister of the state.

Bihar will elect its 243-member assembly in polling in six phases that begins Oct 21 and ends Nov 20. The results will be declared Nov 24.