‘Owaisi a bigger opponent than Lalu in Bihar polls’
BJP chief Amit Shah denies that Owaisi is a party ‘agent’
NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah has said All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi is a bigger opponent than RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Bihar polls.
In an interview to Hindustan, Shah denied all claims that Owaisi is a BJP “agent” as opposition parties had accused AIMIM of working in favour of the saffron party.
Owaisi had announced in September that his party will contest the assembly elections, focusing on the state’s northeastern Seemanchal region.
Analysts say the AIMIM could influence results in at least 21 Muslim-dominated constituencies of Kosi-Purnia divisions, besides another 15 in Bhagalpur-Munger divisions.
Muslims, who make up 17% of Bihar’s 10.50 crore population, may influence the electoral outcome in about 50 of the state’s 243 assembly seats.
Sources h ave said the Hyderabad-based party could field candidates in nearly 30 seats in Seemanchal.
‘WE WILL WIN’
Shah said the NDA will win a two-third majority and form a government in Bihar.
“Leaders of all our associate parties are meeting people and assuring them that the BJP-led coalition will form a government this time around,” said Shah.
He said Nitish Kumar has formed an alliance with Lalu Yadav and the Congress only because of his sheer greed of power. “If Nitish was concerned about issues and ideals, he would have fought it out alone and never have sided with Lalu, who was his opponent for 20 years.”
Shah emphasised that the real issue is Bihar’s development and that his party and its allies are fighting the polls to bring about progress in the state.
“People of Bihar know that the development of the state is not possible under the jungle raj of Lalu and amid the corruption of Congress. Anyone can see the graph of growth in the state’s where the BJP is in power. They will be able to see that every village has electricity 24 hours a day, water, schools and teachers. If NDA forms a government, Bihar will develop at a faster pace,” he asserted.