Home minister Amit Shah has exuded confidence that NDA would comfortably retain Bihar, predicting a tally of 160 to 180 seats in the 243-member assembly. “We will win more than 160 seats and will form govt in Bihar. It can be higher than 160. It can be 180 also,” Shah told Times Now during his campaign through Mithila, Belsand, Khutauna and Darbhanga.Responding to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s repeated barbs at PM Modi over “nach-gana” and yoga, Shah hit back: “When Manmohan Singh became PM, the country got a PM who could not go among the people to talk about himself, his party and their ideology. Why should a PM not campaign? Elections are a celebration of democracy. Communicating with the people is the responsibility of every political party.”Shah added: “Every time Modi has been abused – even when his mother was insulted – the people of this country have ensured that a lotus blooms in the swamp of hatred. This time too, the same will happen.”On Mahagathbandhan’s campaign, Shah said its partners were “breaking each other’s heads”. “They couldn’t declare candidates before the deadline or run an organised campaign. Every third rally of mine is for an alliance partner, every second rally is joint, and one is BJP-only. It’s a scientific campaign. Nitishji follows the same. If you’ve seen such coordination in opposition alliance, please tell us – I haven’t.”Reiterating that NDA is contesting under CM Nitish Kumar’s leadership, he said: “The CM seat is not vacant, and the PM seat is not empty. Nitish Kumar is the CM and Narendra Modi the PM.” Asked if that could change after the polls, Shah replied: “We can’t stop the opposition from what they wish to say.” When questioned about JDU fielding Anant Singh, arrested for the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav, Shah said: “The decision is JDU’s. But Anant Singh, unlike Lalu Prasad, is not convicted. Lalu was convicted and is out on bail on health grounds, yet Rahul Gandhi is holding rallies with him.”
