BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday launched his party’s Mission Bihar by trying to “wrest” legacy of former Bihar CM and EBC icon Karpoori Thakur by organising an even on the birth anniversary of the socialist leader, with all Central ministers from the state in attendance. Shah attacked Nitish Kumar saying the former CM had no moral right to talk of Karpoori’s principles — which was about ‘anti-Congressism’ — because he took Congress’s support to save JD(U) government in the state. The BJP chief said has party alone worked for the backward and oppressed communities and people had reposed their faith in the party by making an OBC — Narendra Modi — Prime Minister of the country. Shah announced if the BJP came to power in Bihar, it would ensure 24-hour power supply. “Nitish Kumar betrayed the mandate for personal ambition. If he thinks he alone brought about good governance, he is in the wrong. BJP was an equal partner. Things are now getting out of control in Bihar because BJP is not part of government,” he said, hoping that the saffron party’s “vijay rath” would reach Bihar after Delhi, that goes to polls next month. Shah is on two-day visit to Bihar, where Assembly elections are scheduled for later this year. Responding to RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s jibes on Modi government being soft towards Pakistan, Shah said: “We are now responding to their bullets with shells. Earlier, Pakistan Army used to start and end fight on border. Now, Pakistan starts the fight but it is our Army that concludes it.” Taking a dig at Lalu, he said the BJP would ensure there was “no rerun of jungle raj in Bihar”. He said the NDA government had given enough signs of providing good governance by bringing down price of diesel and petrol 11 times in a short duration. “We have ensured saving of Rs 1,500-Rs 4,500 per month for an individual by cutting down inflation,” said Shah, who will address party functionaries on Saturday. He would also visit JP Narayan Charkha Samiti to offer his gratitude to another big socialist leader. Shah’s visit is taken as formal launch of Bihar campaign with focus on winning over EBCs and Dalits. Just as BJP played up Congress icons at national level, it has opted for JP and Karpoori to take on JD(U) and RJD.
