The BJP has asked RJD chief Lalu Prasad to suspend his August 27 rally in view of the floods.

"The rally can be held later. But, for now, almost 1.5 crore people in 18 districts have been hit by the floods," deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told journalists on Wednesday. RJD chief Lalu Prasad instantly rejected the appeal. "Modi should mind his own business. What do the floods have to do with my rally? If I don't hold a rally will the floods recede," Lalu asked.

BJP leaders have dubbed Lalu's August 27 rally as " Benami sampatti bachhao rally (Save illegal property rally)". Modi suggested that Lalu visit flood-hit areas instead of trying to drum up support for his rally. "He will actually help us by telling us where relief is needed," Modi said. "Besides, his sons - Tejashwi and Tej Pratap - have never seen floods. This flood is worse than the Kosi deluge of 2008. Lalu's sons should visit flood-hit areas. They will get first-hand experience."

Modi said all BJP MLAs have been asked to donate a month's pay to the chief minister's relief fund while BJP ministers are expected to give Rs 1 lakh (equivalent of three months' basic pay) each. He appealed to the RJD and Congress MLAs to do the same.

Modi said that people affected by floods during the Lalu-Rabri regime did not expect any relief. "It was under the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in 2008 that massive relief work was undertaken. We'll do the same this time."

Many RJD MLAs from north Bihar, too, feel the party should have suspended the rally and shown more solidarity with the flood-hit people. "I have been asked to bring 5,000 people to the Gandhi Maidan rally," said a former RJD minister. "How can I ask people whose homes are submerged to come to Patna for a rally? I will go to the rally alone."