Modi takes on Tejashwi in Bihar, invokes Ram temple
PM calls young RJD leader prince of ‘jungle raj’; polling goes off smoothly in first of three phases
PATNA/MUZAFFARPUR/DARBHANGA: Invoking the construction of the Ram temple for the first time in the Bihar assembly campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into the state Opposition’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday, terming him the prince of “jungle raj” and warning the electorate that vested interests are out to rob the state of development funds and drag it back into “Bimaru” or sick condition.
Modi addressed three rallies in Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Patna, and said the state could face the double whammy of the Covid-19 pandemic and poor growth if the Grand Alliance – comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress, and Left parties – was successful in the ongoing assembly elections that kicked off on Wednesday.
Modi directly attacked Yadav and his poll promise of one million government jobs and said if the RJD came back to power, they would likely wipe out private enterprise and derail the rule of law in Bihar. He, however, didn’t mention estranged ally Lok Janshakti Party, which is fighting the election alone but is a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.
“It’s not the time for ‘hawa hawai’ (empty promises). These elections are an opportunity to re-elect those who have pulled Bihar out of deep darkness... Please ask yourself if the yuvraj of jungle raj has the credibility and the experience to fulfil the aspirations of the state’s lower and middle classes,” the PM said.
In Darbhanga, Modi invoked the Ramayana and said he was happy to be in the birthplace of Sita -- Mithila. “And the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya has also begun. Those ‘siyasi log’ [political opponents] who used to taunt us over the delay in construction of the Ram temple are now compelled to clap in applause,” he said.
The NDA – comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), the Hindustani Awami Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) – is seeking a fourth consecutive term for chief minister Nitish Kumar in an election shaped so far by debates over development, public health, and a referendum-of-sorts on the 15-year-rule of Kumar compared to an identical period by his predecessors Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi.
Voting on 71 seats was completed on Wednesday; 94 seats go to the polls on November 3 and 78 on November 7. Results are scheduled for November 10.