Patna: CPI leader and former JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar said on Wednesday that the agenda which were relevant to the state 15 years ago unfortunately continue to dominate the present polls.
The ruling coalition is setting the agenda in the ongoing election and the opposition is only reacting to it instead of coming out with their own issues, he lamented.
"Even after ruling the state for 15 years he failed to solve the problems in the fields of education, health and other core sectors, Bihar still stands in the same position as it did 15 years ago in terms of development", Kumar said
The CPI leader's jibe seems directed at puncturing the claims of Nitish Kumar of bringing an all-round development in the state in the last 15 years under him.
Coming down heavily on the NDA coalition at the centre as well as in Bihar, the CPI leader said "through headline management, they are diverting attention of the people from the basic issues guiding citizens' daily lives."
Apparently referring to LJP which is contesting on its own in the Bihar polls with a promise to defeat the JD(U) and form next government in the state with the BJP, he said "there is utter confusion in the ruling alliance as who is with whom and who is against whom."
When enquired whether he accepts Tejashwi Yadav as the leader of the opposition grouping, he reacted, "Tejashwi Yadav is the leader of the largest constituent of the coalition and so its natural that he will be the leader and there is no question about it."
Though Kumar, who unsuccessfully contested 2019 General Election from his native Begusarai Lok Sabha seat, is not fighting the state elections, he has been named among the star campaigners of his party for the polls.
Former JNUSU general secretary, Sandeep Saurav, has been fielded by CPI-ML, also a member of the grand alliance, from the Paliganj assembly seat in the outskirts of Patna.
It's yet not confirmed whether Kanhaiya Kumar as leader of the opposition grouping would seek vote for him at Paliganj.
(This report is based on an interview given to PTI-Bhasha)