Senior Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said the poll outcome in the national capital was a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asserted that the same blow would be given to the saffron party in Bihar.
“Delhi election results indeed is a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Delhi is the heart of the country so it reflects the mood of the country,” Mr. Kumar told reporters.
Mr. Kumar congratulated Aam Aadmi Party’s convener Arvind Kejriwal for the party’s landslide victory in Delhi.
“There was a talk of swing in favour of AAP in Delhi, but indeed the entire pendulum of the clock has moved from one end to another,” he said to highlight BJP’s defeat in Delhi.
“BJP ideological parent Jansangh was born in Delhi. The Prime Minister had addressed several rallies and every decision by BJP was taken in his name...its indeed referendum on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mr. Kumar said.
“Delhi is the national capital where people from all parts of the country live so it reflects changing mood of the country against BJP-led NDA government at the Centre,” the JD(U) leader flanked by state party chief Basistha Narayan Singh and senior leaders Vijay Chaudhary and Shyam Rajak said while talking to mediapersons at his residence.
People from Bihar who live in Delhi in large numbers have also shown their decision on BJP by voting for AAP, Mr. Kumar said.
“Astonishingly in such a short span of nine months of Narendra Modi government, the mood of people is changing against him,” he said and attributed this to BJP’s failure to deliver on any of the tall promises made during the poll.
“He (Modi) talked lofty things on return of black money, paying enhanced bonus to farmers, special status to Bihar in 100 days but none of them are visible even after lapse of nine months,” Mr. Kumar, whose JD(U) severed ties with BJP over elevation of Mr. Modi, said.
“Hawabazzi se kaam nahi chalega (things will not work only on the basis of lofty talks),” he said in an apparent dig at the Prime Minister.
Mr. Kumar said Bihar would be the next destination where BJP would face similar results. Bihar will go to poll before November this year.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP, Mr. Kumar said instead of fulfilling the promises made during the poll, the saffron party was indulging in “divisive” activities in the name of “love jihad” and “conversion.”
“Many a church was attacked in Delhi during poll,” he said to drive home the point.
He also mocked at Modi’s oft-used expression “karz uttarenge aap logo ka” (I will repay the debt). “How much debt he has taken from people which he has to repay?” he said taking a jibe at the Prime Minister.
When asked if AAP would be invited in the merger process as part of grand anti-BJP group, Mr. Kumar answered in negative.
“They are a different kind of party. They cannot be involved in merger of old Janata Parivar,” he said.
“All parties cannot be part of it (merger of Janata Parivar). But there can be alignment with them,” he said adding, even West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee talked to him twice on Bihar issue and extended her moral support.
Mr. Kumar said BJP was practising same brand of politics in Bihar that they did in Delhi and would face the same result.
Published - February 10, 2015 03:26 pm IST
