Presidential Election 2017: Ram Nath Kovind is OBC, not Dalit, says Lalu Prasad Yadav

Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Wednesday questioned the Dalit identity of BJP-led NDA presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind and claimed that Kovind is not a Dalit but an OBC. “Kovind Dalit nahi hai, OBC hai,” Lalu said, addressing hundreds of party leaders and workers at a function to mark the 21st foundation day of his Rashtriya Janata Dal party. [caption id=“attachment_3779109” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Reuters[/caption] Lalu said Kovind has been made a candidate by the BJP due to the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls. “Kovind belongs to Koli caste, which is OBC in Gujarat and constitutes 18 percent of the vote there,” Lalu said. Lalu said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-backed BJP has nothing to do with Dalit interests. “The BJP has been doing politics by declaring Kovind as Dalit and using his name for consolidating votes in Gujarat,” he alleged. Lalu reiterated that he and his party never compromised with its principles and ideology. “Even if the Congress had asked me to support Kovind, I would not have supported him,” he declared. In a bid to connect with party leaders and workers, Lalu said “RJD ka har karyakarta khud mein Lalu Prasad hai, na who kisi se darta hai na hi apne sidhant se samjhauta karta hai. (Each RJD worker is a Lalu Prasad. He does not fear anyone or compromise with his principles).”