Filmmaker Prakash Jha (extreme left) shares the dais with chief minister Nitish Kumar (right) at the Sankalp Rally in Muzaffarpur on Saturday. Picture by Lokesh Bihari

Muzaffarpur, Dec. 21: Chief minister Nitish Kumar, after a lull, today made a scathing attack on the Congress-RJD for forging an alliance in the Lok Sabha election in the state.

The chief minister, along with a host of JD(U) leaders, addressed a huge gathering during the third Sankalp Rally of Tirhut division, comprising Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi and Sheohar districts, at New Police Line ground.

Nitish said the party had decided to hold 12 Sankalp rallies apparently to ensure partymen and people pledge against communal forces, its enduring crusade for Bihar’s special status and above all, to beat the Congress-RJD combine.

Coming down heavily on the electoral alliance, Nitish said both the parties had again connived to bring back the days of lawlessness and total anarchy. Nitish said: “I have instilled a sense of confidence and established a rule of law by burning the midnight oil in the state for more than eight years. The process of delivering good governance and bringing cheers on wrinkled faces is still in progress. The days of lawlessness during the Congress-RJD misrule are fresh in people’s minds.”

Taking a dig at RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Nitish dubbed him a big dhint (stubborn), adding: “He accused me of hatching a conspiracy to put him behind bars. That is baseless and mindboggling. Lalu is trying to gain people’s sympathy by accusing me. Lalu is in jail and outside it for his misdeeds in allegedly swindling from the government exchequer.”

Nitish appealed to the people to light the lamp of crusade for the right of development in the state. He predicted that the party would make a serious election plank of special status for all-round development of the state along with other backward states. “The state’s people would remain tight on this issue. The Centre should not feel that the party has set aside the issue of special status,” said Nitish.

Film director Prakash Jha, Dal MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh, agriculture minister Narendra Singh, revenue minister Ramai Ram, transport and panchayati raj minister Brishin Patel, minority welfare minister Shahid Ali Khan and others spoke at the event.