Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma (File photo/ANI)
NEW DELHI: Assam chief ministerHimanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday invoked the Ramayana during a campaign rally in poll-bound Bihar, drawing a parallel between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lord Ram and his brother Laxman. In contrast, Sarma said Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav represented Mughal rulers Babur and Aurangzeb. “Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav stand for Babur and Aurangzeb, while Modi ji stands for Ram and Laxman,” the BJP leader declared while addressing a rally in West Champaran district’s Chanpatia assembly constituency on the eve of the first phase of polling, which will cover 121 seats. Targeting AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Sarma added, “I was listening to Owaisi’s speech. He said a Muslim should be Bihar’s chief minister. Who are you to say that? The people of Bihar will decide their leader. Bihar will have a chief minister who worships Lord Ram and Laxman. Owaisi, people will not listen to someone like you. And if you want a Muslim chief minister, I’ll give you a ticket to Pakistan — you can go there and have one.” Bihar, which will vote in the second phase for the remaining 122 assembly seats on November 11, is witnessing a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes the BJP, and the RJD-led opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance. Tejashwi Yadav, son of RJD supremo and former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, is the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate. Counting of votes for all 243 constituencies is scheduled for November 14.