Cong fields Nirupam in Bihar

In an attempt to improve their political stock as well as their respective parties' prospects in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, two fiery speakers""Uma Bharti (BJP) and Sanjay Nirupam (Shiv Sena-MP-turned-Congress leader)""made their debut in Patna today.

While Bharti said the upcoming Bihar election was a "moment of truth, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) having the moral edge, Nirupam advised Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ramvilas Paswan to "bury differences with Lalu Prasad and put up a united front to keep the NDA out".

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) should fight the polls unitedly and in complete alliance with its partners including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the LJP, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as also its Left allies like the CPI and the CPI(M) to prevent the NDA from coming to power in Bihar, Nirupam said.

The dissolution of the Bihar Assembly was a great "sin" committed by the UPA government at the Centre but it would prove a blessing in disguise as the NDA on its own could form a government after the polls, Bharti said.

Bharti also expressed surprise that President APJ Abdul Kalam had acquiesced the dissolving of the Bihar Assembly despite the popular verdict against the RJD.

Bharti also criticised the Left parties for supporting the UPA on the issue of dissolution of the Assembly.

For both leaders it will be a test of sorts, since both have been rehabilitated after a spell in the political wilderness. Nirupam had to undergo a humiliating wait of few months till Congress chief Sonia Gandhi decided to induct him into the party.

Bharti was handed over the Bihar assignment with Pramod Mahajan after she too spent a few months of penance after being removed from the BJP over her misbehaviour at a party meeting.

Both are experts at raking up emotional issues and playing to the gallery. It is clear in an election with no issues except where one stands in relation to Lalu, the campaign will have to focus on style rather than substance.

Bharti, however, has an edge in that---she has earlier won a state election for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. Nirupam on the other hand is trying to break out of his Mumbai mould to expand his political appeal.

Nirupam, a Bihari who lives in Mumbai, has, however, made it clear that he would prefer contesting the elections from Mumbai to coming to Patna, his home town.