Before Bihar elections, Digvijaya Singh goads Paswans to join Congress amid LJP-JDU tussle

As poll campaign begins in Bihar, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh while addressing his party's virtual rally said that Ram Vilas Paswan and Chirag Paswan should quit NDA and join Congress-led by 'revolutionaries'. He said that 'God should give m good sense' so that y quit 'communal forces' and work for benefit of people of state.

Digvijaya Singh remarked that contest in this year's assembly polls is of ideology and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a range of issues including migrant crisis that resulted as Covid lockdown began. He also slammed Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM by calling it 'a party that takes money from  BJP.'  former Madhya Pradesh CM praised former Bihar CM and RJD chief Lalu Yadav, who is currently in jail. 

"I hope God gives good sense to Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag Paswan and join Congress which is being led by revolutionaries like Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I hope y quit opportunists like Nitish Kumar and communal force like BJP and join Congress," Digvijaya Singh said. 

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JDU vs LJP

While BJP has already anunced that NDA will contest polls under leadership of CM Nitish Kumar, Lok Janshakti Party has said that it will decide for itself. Chirag Paswan led LJP met on September 7 and sources said that y have decided to contest on 143 seats. Sources say if NDA does t agree to ir poll terms, y may contest upcoming elections against ruling JDU.

Meanwhile, sounding poll bugle, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched his re-election campaign with a 'Nischay Samwaad' rally on Monday. In a marathon three hour speech, Nitish Kumar attacked Lalu family and chose to end his speech by mentioning deceased actor Sushant Singh Rajput. On or hand, a war-of-words has broken out between LJP and JDU with JDU chief KC Tyagi stating that Paswan's party is 'free to go' if y have a problem with Nitish's leadership. To this, Ram Vilas Paswan who is also a Union Minister, said that JDU has made 'things better for m.'

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Bihar elections 2020

Amid rising COVID-19 cases, Bihar is all set to go to polls for a 243-member assembly seat in October-vember.  Election Commission has issued directives to conduct election amid COVID, however, dates are yet to be anunced. In 2015 assembly polls, CM Nitish Kumar's JDU, n a part of Mahagathbandhan won 71 seats, Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD won 80 seats, and Congress won 27 seats. BJP which fought elections alone after Kumar in 2013 broke 17-year-old alliance won a mere 53 seats out of 157 contested. However, saffron party came back to power when Kumar ditched Mahagathbandhan and once again stitched an alliance with BJP.

READ | Bihar polls: Sushant Rajput finds a mention in CM Nitish's rally, mourns actor's death