Patna (Bihar) [India], October 29 : Jharkhand Leader of Opposition (LoP) Babulal Marandi on Wednesday said that Muslims don't vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and yet receive benefits from the central government's schemes without discrimination.
Marandi, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and BJP leader, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that the benefits of welfare schemes reach everyone, without discrimination on the basis of caste or religion.
"If they (Muslim voters) had voted for the BJP, they would have... However, without giving the vote to the BJP, PM Modi is making all the welfare schemes available to everyone without any discrimination," Marandi said.
"Some of them (Muslims) vote (for us), but not all," he added.
His remarks came after he was asked about All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi's criticism against both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan over the treatment of Muslims.
Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav refused to respond to the criticism levelled by Owaisi against the Mahagathbandhan, implying that a Muslim face could be announced as a Deputy Chief Ministerial candidate.
"Leave it. What can I say about it?" said Tejashwi, who has been named as the Mahagathbandhan CM face in the run-up to the Bihar assembly elections.
Owaisi earlier said that if Mahagathbandhan can promise a Deputy CM post to a person whose community represents only three per cent of the population, why can't a Muslim become Deputy CM, a community that represents 17 per cent?
The Mahagathbandhan released its manifesto on Tuesday, titled 'Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran', promising to pass a law within 20 days of forming the government, to provide government jobs to one member of every family in the state.
The 2025 Bihar Elections will see a contest between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan. The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
The Mahagathbandhan led by Rashtriya Janata Dal includes the Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).
The assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to be held on November 6 and 11, respectively, while the results will be declared on November 14.