नीतीश की सूनामी, बह गए लालू

बिहार चुनावों में मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार की जीत को लेकर मीडिया ने उनकी तारीफ़ों के पुल बांध दिए हैं.
ये सच है कि बिहार विधानसभा की 243 सीटों के लिए बुधवार को हुई मतगणना में एक तरह से जनता दल-यू और भारतीय जनता पार्टी गठबंधन के पक्ष में आंधी सी चलती दिखाई दी जिसमें विपक्षी दिग्गज धराशायी हो गए.
चुनावों में लालू-पासवान की जोड़ी धराशायी हो गई और राहुल गांधी का जादू भी नहीं चला.
पंजाब केसरी ने शीर्षक लगाया है- नीतीश की सूनामी, बहे लालू, पासवान और कांग्रेस.
अख़बार लिखता है कि बिहार में नीतीश की सूनामी ने लालू, पासवान और कांग्रेस को जड़ से उखाड़ दिया. इतना प्रचंड बहुमत इससे पहले किसी राज्य में किसी पार्टी को नहीं मिला.
अख़बार का कहना है कि अपने युवराज के दम पर बड़े बड़े दावे करने वाली कांग्रेस तो मानो रसातल में जा धंसी और 'बड़बोले' लालू, राबड़ी और पासवान का गठजोड़ भी चारों खाने जमीन सूंघ गया.
दैनिक जागरण का सुर्खी है- विकास की जय, नीतीश का परचम लहराया, लालू-राहुल के मंसूबे ध्वस्त.
जागरण लिखता है कि बिहार में नीतीश जिस हनक से वापस लौटे हैं, उसका पूरे देश खासतौर से उत्तर भारत की सियासत पर खासा असर होगा.
हिंदुस्तान का शीर्षक है- काम का इनाम.
अख़बार लिखता है कि बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव में विकास और सुशासन की लहर पर सवार नीतीश कुमार की आंधी में सत्तारूढ़ गठबंधन ने 84 फ़ीसदी से ज्यादा सीटों पर कब्ज़ा जमाया, वहीं आरजेडी, एलजेपी और कांग्रेस की करारी हार हुई.
नवभारत टाइम्स ने इसे जवाँ सपनों की जीत करार दिया है.
अख़बार लिखता है कि यह ख़बर उस जवां भारत की है जो नए भविष्य के सपने देख रहा है. देश भर में यह हुआ और अब बिहार की बारी थी. बिहार में नीतीश कुमार ने अपने पहले कार्यकाल में इन जवाँ सपनों को पंख दिए और उन्हें पूरा करने का रोजमैप पेश किया.
नवभारत लिखता है कि जनता ने ऐसी जीत उन्हें गिफ्ट की है जिसकी उन्हें उम्मीद भी नहीं थी.
अंग्रेज़ी दैनिक हिंदुस्तान टाइम्स की हेडिंग है- नीतीश लैंडस्लाइड बरीज़ लालू, कांग्रेस यानि नीतीश की भारी जीत में दबे लालू और कांग्रेस.
बिहार में नीतीश कुमार ने अपने पहले कार्यकाल में जवाँ सपनों को पंख दिए और उन्हें पूरा करने का रोजमैप पेश किया.
नवभारत टाइम्स
अख़बार लिखता है कि नीतीश पर सवार होकर भाजपा ने भी ऐतिहासिक जीत हासिल की.
अख़बार ने नीतीश के सामने आने वाली पाँच चुनौतियों को भी गिनाया है. ये हैं- बिजली, पानी, आर्थिक, भूअधिग्रहण और बुनियादी ढांचा.
टाइम्स ऑफ़ इंडिया की हेडिंग है- नीतीश टेक सेंटर स्टेज यानि नीतीश केंद्रीय भूमिका में आए.
अख़बार ने सवाल खड़ा किया है कि क्या वो प्रधानमंत्री के संभावित दावेदार हैं?
टाइम्स के अनुसार बिहार ने राजनीति के सुपरस्टार को जन्म दिया है और अब सवाल उठ रहा है आज का सीएम क्या कल का पीएम है. राजनीतिक पंडित अभी इसे अपरिपक्व सवाल मान रहे हैं लेकिन वे इस संभावना से इनकार भी नहीं कर रहे हैं.
इंडियन एक्सप्रेस की हेडिंग है- राजनीतीश. अख़बार ने एक अन्य ख़बर छापी है जिसका शीर्षक है- 4/243: राहुल पहली बार चढ़े कसौटी पर.
अख़बार लिखता है कि कांग्रेस ने हिंदीभाषी क्षेत्रों में अपनी वापसी को लेकर राहुल से बड़ी उम्मीदें लगा रखी हैं, लेकिन उसे झटका लगा है.
अमर उजाला का शीर्षक है- विकास को बिहार का सलाम.
अख़बार लिखता है कि नीतीश की सत्ता मे धमाकेदार वापसी हुई है लेकिन आरजेडी के लिए शर्मिंदगी की सबसे बड़ी वजह राबड़ी का हारना है.

श्रीकृष्ण सिंह के रिकार्ड से थोड़े ही पीछे रहे नीतीश

बिहार में नीतीश कुमार के नेतृत्व में जद यू-भाजपा गठबंधन को इस चुनाव में जबर्दस्त जनसमर्थन प्राप्त हुआ है, चुनाव में गठबंधन दो तिहाई सीट प्राप्त करने के साथ 206 सीटों पर जीत दर्ज की है हालांकि नीतीश 1951 के चुनाव में बिहार के प्रथम मुख्यमंत्री डा. श्रीकृष्ण सिंह (कांग्रेस) के रिकार्ड को तोड़ने में मामूली अंतर से चूक गए हैं.

इस चुनाव में नीतीश के नेतृत्व वाली जद यू-भाजपा गठबंधन को 84.77 प्रतिशत सीटें प्राप्त हुई है जबकि डा. श्रीकृष्ण सिंह को 1951 के चुनाव में 86.59 प्रतिशत सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. हालांकि झारखंड बनने के बाद बिहार के चुनाव में यह रिकार्ड है और इसने 1995 के चुनाव में ‘बक्से से निकलने वाले जिन्न’ को पीछे छोड़ दिया है.

बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव के इतिहास में यह तीसरा मौका है जब किसी पार्टी या गठबंधन को तीन चौथाई सीट हासिल हुई हो . बिहार में नीतीश की अगुवाई वाले गठबंधन को तीन चौथाई बहुमत प्राप्त हो गया है और इतने भारी बहुमत से सत्ता हासिल करने वाले वह कांग्रेस के डा. श्रीकृष्ण सिंह के बाद दूसरे नेता बन गए हैं.

इससे पहले, वर्ष 1951 और 1957 में डा. श्रीकृष्ण सिंह की अगुवाई वाली कांग्रेस को तीन चौथाई बहुमत मिला था. वर्ष 1951 में कांग्रेस को 86.59 प्रतिशत सीटें मिली थी जबकि 1957 में उन्हें 79.54 प्रतिशत सीटें मिली थी. इस चुनाव में भाजपा जदयू गठबंधन को 80 प्रतिशत से अधिक सीटें प्राप्त हुई है.

साल 1951 में 276 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में कांग्रेस को 239 सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी जबकि साल 1957 में बिहार विधानसभा के लिए 264 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में कांग्रेस को 210 सीटें मिली थी.

आपातकाल और जेपी आंदोलन के बाद 1977 में जनसंघ समेत विपक्षी दलों ने जनता पार्टी के बैनर तले चुनाव लड़ा था. इस चुनाव में जनता पार्टी और उसके गठबंधन को 66.04 प्रतिशत सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. प्रदेश में 324 सदस्यीय विधानसभा में हुए चुनाव में जनता पार्टी गठबंधन को 214 सीटें मिली थी और कर्पूरी ठाकुर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री बने थे. इस चुनाव में कांग्रेस को 57 सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. साल 1962 के चुनाव में 318 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में कांग्रेस को 185 सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी जबकि प्रजातांत्रित समाजवादी पार्टी को 29 सीटें मिलीं थी . 1967 में 318 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में कांग्रेस को 40.25 प्रतिशत सीटें मिली थी. इस चुनाव में कांग्रेस को 128 सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी जबकि संयुक्त सोशलिस्ट पार्टी को 68 सीटें मिली थी.

साल 1969 के चुनाव में 318 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में कांग्रेस को 37.10 प्रतिशत सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. कांग्रेस ने 118 सीटें प्राप्त की थी जबकि संयुक्त सोशलिस्ट पार्टी को 52 तथा भारतीय जनसंघ को 34 सीटें मिली थी. 1972 के चुनाव में 318 सीटों पर हुए मतदान में कांग्रेस को 52.51 प्रतिशत सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. कांग्रेस को इस चुनाव में 167 सीटें मिली थी जबकि भाकपा को 35 सीटें और भारतीय जनसंघ को 25 सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी.

साल 1980 के चुनाव में 324 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में कांग्रेस (इंदिरा) को 52.16 प्रतिश्शत सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. कांग्रेस (इंदिरा) को 169 सीटें मिली थी जबकि भाजपा को 21, जनता पार्टी सोशलिस्ट को 42 तथा भाकपा को 23 सीटें मिली थी. 1985 में हुए बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव में 324 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में कांग्रेस को 60.49 प्रतिशत सीटें मिली थी. कांग्रेस को 196 सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी जबकि भाजपा को 16 तथा भाकपा को 12 सीटें मिली थी.

साल 1990 में 324 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में जनता दल सबसे बड़ी पार्टी बन कर उभरी और उसे 37. 65 प्रतिशत सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. इस चुनाव में जनता दल को 122 सीटें, कांग्रेस को 71, भाजपा को 39 तथा भाकपा को 23 सीटें मिली थी. 1995 में प्रदेश में 342 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में जनता दल को 51.54 प्रतिशत सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. जनता दल ने इस चुनाव में 167 सीटें प्राप्त की थी जबकि भाजपा को 41, कांग्रेस को 29, भाकपा को 26 तथा भाकपा को छह सीटें मिली थी.

साल 2000 में 324 सीटों के लिए हुए चुनाव में लालू प्रसाद के राजद को 38.27 प्रतिशत सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. राजद ने 124 सीटें प्राप्त की थी जबकि भाजपा को 67 सीटें, जद यू को 21 सीटें, कांग्रेस को 23, भाकपा को पांच तथा माकपा को दो सीटें मिली थी. फरवरी 2005 में 243 सीटों पर हुए चुनाव में त्रिशंकू विधानसभा का चित्र उभरा था. इस चुनाव में राजद को 75 सीटें, जद यू को 55 सीटें, भाजपा को 37 सीटें, कांग्रेस को 10 सीटें, भाकपा को तीन, भाकपा को एक तथा भाकपा माले को सात सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी.

साल 2005 के अक्तूबर..नवम्बर को हुए चुनाव में जद यू गठबंधन सरकार बनी थी. इस बार जद यू को 88 सीटें और भाजपा को 55 सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. इस चुनाव में लालू प्रसाद की राजद को 54 तथा रामविलास पासवान की लोजपा को 10 सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी. चुनाव में कांग्रेस को नौ, भाकपा को तीन, माकपा को एक सीट तथा भाकपा माले को पांच सीटें प्राप्त हुई थी.

विधानसभा क्षेत्र के अनुसार परिणाम

विधानसभा क्षेत्र के अनुसार परिणाम

New Delhi mishap shocks Nitish

Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives after a five-storied building crashed in New Delhi on Monday night. Among the victims were three people of Bihar who were killed and two injured. He also directed the state officials to provide all possible assistance to the victims.

Soon after getting the information of the incident, the CM directed the resident commissioner and joint labour commissioner (JLC) in New Delhi to coordinate with their Delhi counterparts and other agencies for providing all possible assistance to the victims.

The JLC was camping at the site and providing assistance to the families of the victims. Two of those killed belonged to Saharsa district while one to Katihar. Both the injured hail from Katihar.

Meanwhile, deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi sought a high-level probe into the mishap. Expressing his condolence for the victims, he welcomed the state government's gesture of providing Rs 1 lakh each to the dependents of those who were perished in the building collapse.

Modi urged the Delhi government to provide special treatment for the injured. He also sought stern action against erring landlords and builders.

Source : Times of India

Tiwari takes a dig at Sonia’s sermon

JD(U) spokesperson and MP Shivanand Tiwari on Wednesday said here that the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is doing moral preachings at the election meetings in the state, should own moral responsibility for the 2G spectrum scam causing a loss of Rs 1.7 lakh crore to the nation.

He said, the 2G spectrum scam is the mother of all scams and the prime minister office cannot feign ignorance about and the department of telecommunications (DoT) had ignored the instructions of the union minstries of finance and law for following the legal norms and steps for granting the licence for 2G spectrum.

Tiwari told TOI that the NDA government in Bihar had taken stringent actions and enacted laws to check corruption. "Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has taken it as a major challenge to check corruption in the next five years," Tiwary said.

Tiwari added that the DoT had issued 25 questions to the 232 applicants for 2G spectrum to reply despite this 85 of the ineligible applicants were granted the licence for the 2G spectrum. "They accounted for seventy percent of 122 applicants, who were given 2G spectrum licence clearly indicating the massive corruption in grant of licence for 2G spectrum by the UPA government which finally led to ouster of communications and IT minister, A Raja," he said.

According to him, PM Manmohan Singh has directly come into the picture with the Supreme Court asking the union government to explain as to why the sanctioning authority, who was the PM himself, had remained silent for 11 months on a petition of Subramanyam Swamy seeking prosecution sanction against A Raja. The PM and his office acted bizarre despite the fact that the CBI had registered FIR against unknown persons on October 21, 2009, in the matter, he added.

JD(U) MPs missing in campaign action

Most of the JD(U) Lok Sabha members from Bihar were not visible much during the month-long campaign for the state assembly polls in various parts of the state. While one of the MPs is abroad, others are either in New Delhi or in Patna.

JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, who is the MP from Madhepura, is extensively touring the state and addressing six to seven public meetings every day. The rebel party MP from Munger, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, is also active, but against the party canvassing for the Congress candidates.

Some JD(U) MPs remained absent from the public meetings of chief minister Nitish Kumar in their respective districts. They were not even present at the election meetings addressed by their national president.

Vashistha Narayan Singh, chairman of the campaign committee of the JD(U), told TOI it was the moral duty of all MPs to remain active during the campaign not only in their constitutencies but in other parts of the state as well. Their absence has "not gone unnoticed", he said. When asked whether notifications were sent to the MPs asking them to remain in their constituencies during the polls and campaign for the party nominees, Singh said, "There is no need to send invitations to individual MPs. It is their moral duty to work actively for the success of the NDA candidates."

Singh also said if any MPs are found to have not done adequate campaigning, the party will probe and take action against the erring MPs. "It is not necessary to send invitations to loyal partymen," Singh said.
He said their absence from the campaign will have no adverse impact on the NDA candidates' performance since the voters are quite impressed with Nitish Kumar in any case.

According to Singh, the NDA candidates are going to win with handsome margins in all the constitutencies. He claimed in the first five phases, the NDA has already secured a comfortable lead and the polling in the remaining 26 constitutencies is just a formality. "The NDA will win all the 26 seats in Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Buxar and remaining parts of Gaya districts," he added.

The campaign committee chairman said now even the opposition parties were following the programme of Nitish Kumar and talking of development as the primary agenda during their campaign. The electorate, he claimed, have forgotten their caste affiliations and are supporting the NDA.

A JD(U) Rajya Sabha member said, "The absence of the Lok Sabha members in the campaign was immaterial as they were not even capable of ensuring the votes of their family members. People have forgotten their loyalties and are voting to bring back Nitish Kumar."

Some of the ruling party MPs did not come out in the open as their close relatives are contesting the elections on the tickets of rival parties.

Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said, "The MPs of the BJP are active in the campaign. Shahnawaz Hussain, Radhamohan Singh, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, C P Thakur as well as other MPs are active in the campaign for the BJP candidates. Even Shatrughan Sinha, MP from Patna Sahib, campaigned in other parts of the state."
Source : Times of India

Honey & clove aid Nitish voice : TOI

No sore throats, please, because the most challenging task before star campaigners is to ensure that their throat is all right. "After all it is 'gala' (throat) that matters in electioneering," said chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Being the star campaigner of JD(U), Nitish Kumar has addressed more than 280 election meetings across 243 assembly constituencies since October 8. He will finally close his campaign on November 20 at Dumraon. By that time he is expected to touch the 300 figure.

During these 40 days he took a break for only three days and that, too, because of Chhath. He campaigned on Diwali and will address a few meetings on Bakrid.

"I used all pathies — allopathy, homoeopathy, naturopathy and ayurveda to keep my throat healthy. I also take honey and herbs, including clove. It helps me a lot," said Nitish, who is the son of an ayurveda practitioner. "I know some ayurveda drugs and herbs which suite me."

He refused to give credit to any particular doctor for his almost "perfect throat". A doctor tried to take credit, but Nitish snubbed him, "Sorry. It was not your medicine alone. I used several things to keep fit during this crucial period."

The microphone, however, plays a key role in the health of the throat. "If the mike is all right then I speak without any strain. But if the mike is bad, it puts much pressure and I have to speak loudly. Otherwise I don't speak loudly. Only those who have nothing to prove speak loudly," he said, hinting at his rival and RJD supremo, Lalu Prasad, who loves thundering over the microphone.

Nitish addressed, on an average, eight election meetings every day. "I started with seven meetings for a few days and then graduated to nine without a break. Chhath was the only time when I suspended campaigning for three days," he said.

For the past 40 days, Nitish's schedule was marked by a rush to the hanger and then flying out to different assembly constituencies and returning home only after sunset. Initially, he camped in Madhepura, Darbhanga and Bhagalpur and carried on his campaign from there. Among his companions were one of the two Sanjays — Sanjay Kumar Singh of JD(U) or Sanjay Jha of BJP, both MLCs.

Everyday, Nitish spoke for around two hours at meetings. Some halts were not more than 15 minutes. He would take generous sips of tea as the hot beverage is believed to work wonders for the throat.

"In this election Laluji could not find an issue and throughout he tried explaining his position and regrets for past mistakes. He tried to make some new points. But they backfired like the motorcycle to students or 'ghunghroo' for him," Nitish said.

In no time Nitish started making a parody of these two points and Lalu stopped repeating them. "Later on I also avoided referring to them but the crowd would ask me to speak about motorcycle and ghungroo. It is at their prodding that I keep on telling them to give ghungroo to Lalu and vote to me!" he said with a guffaw.
Source : Times of India

JD(U) to take action against rebel leaders

With electioneering coming to an end and the last phase of polling only a week away, the JD(U) is thinking of taking on its rebel leaders, including some MPs who were under suspicion during the month-long election period or were found to be involved in anti-party activities.

This has been hinted by party national president Sharad Yadav and later by state party chief Vijay Kumar Chowdhary. Both of them at separate press meets said the party will certainly take action against them at an appropriate time.

The supposedly sulking leaders include Upendra Kushwaha, Monazir Hasan, Poornamasi Ram, Mahabali Singh, Capt Jai Narayan Nishad - all MPs - and some others. They reportedly turned hostile after the party refused to entertain their wards for tickets to contest the elections.

Among the rebels, the classic case is that of chief minister Nitish Kumar's old confidant and former state party chief Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan, who is aggressively campaigning for Congress candidates and asking people to dislodge the state govenment headed by Nitish. Lalan is a JD(U) MP from Munger.

However, some of them who were contacted by TOI denied they were sulking. But, they said the party did not give them any work during the election. The JD(U) refused to utilise the services of certain leaders in the election apprehending a negative effect on the party. The newly-inducted Upendra Kushwaha, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha, was kept off the campaign. "We saw his behaviour at the Rajgir convention so there was no question of involving him in the campaign," said Chowdhary.

"I am not unhappy with the party, its policies or the leadership. I don't know why they are blaming me and treating me as a rebel," Kushwaha told TOI on Saturday. He said he did not know why the party was ignoring him. But he revealed that none of the 10-15 party workers whom he recommended were given party tickets.

"The election is still on so it will not be appropriate for me to say anything. But I will definitely react to Chowdhary's charges," said Kushwaha. He added he had raised the issue of the party workers and other related matters at the JD(U) forum and not at any public meeting.

Begusarai MP Monazir Hasan, whose wife is contesting from Munger on an RJD ticket, said he did not campaign for her.

"I was in Munger during that period but never campaigned for her," Hasan said, while admitting to have a "soft corner" for her.

Hasan claimed he did not approach anybody for a ticket for his wife. "Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi compelled her to contest. I played no role in getting her the nomination. But since she is my wife, it is quite natural that people will bracket me with her," Hasan said.

JD(U) MP Mahabali Singh's son is also contesting on an RJD ticket. However, two other JD(U) MPs failed to get nominations for their wards. Poornamsi Ram's son got a ticket from the Congress but he was denied a symbol. A similar situation was faced by Muzaffarpur MP Captain Jai Narayan Nishad, whose daughter-in-law got the party ticket but failed to get a symbol.

Sitamarhi MP Arjun Rai denied lobbying for his wife. He said since the seat he was interested in went to the BJP in the seat sharing arrangement, he did not pursue the matter. He said he worked for the party candidates not only in his district but also in Nawada.

PM Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi owe explanation to nation on 2G scam: JD(U)

The ruling JD (U) today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi owned an explanation to the nation on the allocation of 2G spectrum following Supreme Court's observations on the controversy.

Alleging that the Centre had tried to cover issues related to the "biggest-ever scam of the country", JD(U) national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari said Janata Party chief Subramaniam Swami had sought PMO sanction for prosecution of former telecom minister A Raja way back in November 29, 2008

"The public complaint and pension ministry had responded to Swami in March 2010 saying it would not be appropriate to prosecute Raja," he said.

Now the Supreme Court had made observations against the PM and the PMO for delay in grant of sanction for prosecution, Tiwari said.

Alleging that Raja had "openly defied and overlooked" rules in allotting 2G spectrum licences, he said "The prime minister can't escape responsibility in the issue."

"The process adopted for the distribution of the licences has been in the public domain ... People at the top were aware of it," he said, adding, 100 out 222 applications were rejected, while 85 others were declared ineligible to which the finance department concurred.

He also criticised Gandhi for targeting chief minister Nitish Kumar during her election campaigns in Bihar.

"What was she (Sonia) doing when there was delay in sanction for prosecution?... She also owes an explanation to the nation about the 2G spectrum deal and CWG corruption," he said.

PM Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi owe explanation to nation on 2G scam: JD(U)

The ruling JD (U) today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi owned an explanation to the nation on the allocation of 2G spectrum following Supreme Court's observations on the controversy.

Alleging that the Centre had tried to cover issues related to the "biggest-ever scam of the country", JD(U) national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari said Janata Party chief Subramaniam Swami had sought PMO sanction for prosecution of former telecom minister A Raja way back in November 29, 2008

"The public complaint and pension ministry had responded to Swami in March 2010 saying it would not be appropriate to prosecute Raja," he said.

Now the Supreme Court had made observations against the PM and the PMO for delay in grant of sanction for prosecution, Tiwari said.

Alleging that Raja had "openly defied and overlooked" rules in allotting 2G spectrum licences, he said "The prime minister can't escape responsibility in the issue."

"The process adopted for the distribution of the licences has been in the public domain ... People at the top were aware of it," he said, adding, 100 out 222 applications were rejected, while 85 others were declared ineligible to which the finance department concurred.

He also criticised Gandhi for targeting chief minister Nitish Kumar during her election campaigns in Bihar.

"What was she (Sonia) doing when there was delay in sanction for prosecution?... She also owes an explanation to the nation about the 2G spectrum deal and CWG corruption," he said.

PM slams Nitish Kumar, plays development card

The Battle for Bihar gains momentum with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attacking Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the battlezone. He blames the state government for misusing funds provided by the Centre.

Its a battle for credit in Bihar at an election rally in Narpatganj, in Araria district, the Prime Minister accused Bihar Chief Minister of not giving credit where its due by usurping the central funds.

"We have crores of rupees for Bihar's development, but sadly the money has not reached to the people," said the Prime Minister.


The Congress strategy is to use the development card to break Nitish's claim of bringing change and development in the state.

Like Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, it is Nitish Kumar who has used the development issue to success and the Congress wants to counter the matter. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi too had countered the Nitish's claim on progress- not that Nitish is taking it lying down.

"Money is all that the Congress leaders talk about. I want to ask what money has been given to Bihar that was also not given to other states," said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

But development apart it's a fight for the minority votebank in the state. Rahul had questioned the JD(U)-BJP alliance, On Saturday, the PM accused Nitish of neglecting the minorities.

Before the PM, Rahul Gandhi too had come to Bihar. His theme was the same too - Nitish not good for the 'aam Bihari'.

Bihar election is seen as a litmus test for Rahul's ability to attract votes - not willing to take risks. However, the Congress has lined up film stars on the campaign trail.