Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday declared that the NDA under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will “break all previous electoral records” and urged voters to reject the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-Congress combine, calling its leaders “most corrupt and out on bail”.
PM Modi underscored the fact that the NDA was fighting the Assembly polls “under the leadership of Nitish Kumar”, in an apparent rebuttal of the Opposition charge that after the elections, the BJP planned to replace the 75-year-old JD (U) president, who is seeking a record fifth consecutive term in office. The PM also took a swipe at the INDIA bloc, calling it a Mahalathbandhan (grand alliance where partners beat each other with sticks).
Noting that the BJP has retained power in States such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra, the PM said the enthusiasm of people of Bihar shows that the NDA would “break all previous records” in the upcoming polls.
The PM addressed two massive rallies in the State. All the alliance partners were present at the PM’s rally in Samastipur, where he also took exception to stealing of the epithet Jan Nayak (people’s hero) by Congress workers for Rahul Gandhi, even though it was largely associated with Karpoori Thakur, former Bihar chief minister and a Bharat Ratna awardee. Ahead of his rallies, PM visited Karpuri Gram, the paternal village of Thakur, and paid tributes to the socialist leader.
The 243-member Bihar Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting to be held on November 14. Reaching out to young voters, Modi said, “It was in October 2005 that your parents had brought jungle raj (rule of RJD-Congress) to an end. Exactly 20 years later, you have a big responsibility on your shoulders, to facilitate prosperity by voting in favour of good governance.”
He also expressed gratitude for the large turnout, saying he was overwhelmed by the love showered by the people and that the mood was clear that nayi raftaar se chalega Bihar, jab fir se aayegi NDA Sarkar (Bihar will move ahead with new momentum when the NDA government returns).
The PM also urged women voters, whom he called “victims of jungle raj”, to “slam doors shut on the Congress and the RJD”, and reminded that leaders of these parties had opposed the women’s reservation Bill when it was brought in Parliament.
