Lalu is swine flu virus: Cong

PATNA: A day after RJD supremo Lalu Prasad called the Congress a dengue mosquito, the latter hit back on Thursday saying the former Bihar CM and Union minister was swine flu virus.

Paying Lalu in the same coin, president of the state Congress media cell, Premchand Mishra said, "Lalu Prasad is swine flu virus which has made the state sick. His comment betrays his desperation."

Mishra also took exception to chief minister Nitish Kumar's remark that the Congress and RJD have a secret understanding, as is indicated by a front seat being given to Lalu in the Lok Sabha. "Seat allocation is done by the Speaker and our party has no role in it. Nitish is casting aspersions on the Speaker and making a constitutional post controversial for political gains. He has committed a big mistake by levelling the allegation," Mishra said.

Meanwhile, order returned to Bihar Congress headquarters Sadaquat Ashram, after the locks put up by some partymen in protest against the alleged partisan distribution of tickets for the assembly polls were opened on Wednesday. Publicity and campaign materials were being despatched to different places on Thursday afternoon.

The party is now busy finalising its campaign plans. PM Manmohan Singh will pay a day's visit to the state for each of the six-phase polls. Besides, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will address public meetings in different parts of the state on or after October 11. The chief ministers of Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, besides several Union ministers will also campaign in the state.

Moreover, Bollywood badshah Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta's visit to Patna has been confirmed. Several other film stars will undertake roadshows in Purnia, Saharsa and Darbhanga in the first phase, and Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Munger and Patna in the second phase.

Mishra said the party would release its manifesto for the state polls by October 9. It would outline the Congress agenda on a gamut of issues, including education, job, industry etc.

In another development, several supporters of the RJD's Maharajganj MP, Umashankar Singh, joined Congress on Thursday.

I have always maintained that politicians are the worst scum of society.
They are not only the disease but the cause of the disease.
The Congress and RJD have just confirmed my views by telling us which are the diseases they cause