Nitish dares BJP to hold polls in Bihar & UP simultaneously

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today accepted the BJP's challenge of holding fresh assembly polls in Bihar and threw down the gauntlet asking it to hold simultaneous election in Uttar Pradesh, besides byelection to Lok Sabha seats held by the NDA members in the two states.

"If you (BJP) have the courage then hold simultaneous polls in UP and Bihar. I don't have any problem. I am ready for it tomorrow if you want it so," Kumar said.

"I am ready (for snap polls) but it should be held along with Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. There should be simultaneous assembly polls in UP and Bihar," he told reporters on the sidelines of a programme here.

The Centre should take initiative in this regard, Kumar said and added that it will not take much time to decide the candidate of the opposition parties as they have met on many occasions on the issue.

"Mahatma Gandhi is the Father of the Nation. It is up to them (BJP) to decide what kind of image they want to create about themselves by making such a comment. Does it affect Gandhiji," he said.

"All I can say is that every Indian has very high respect for the Army. The Army chief has the backing of entire nation in discharging his duties," he said.