Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) election campaign in Bihar on Friday with back-to-back rallies in Samastipur and Begusarai, launching a sharp attack on the Opposition bloc. He described the INDIA alliance as a “tie-up of thugs” led by people “out on bail” and predicted a record victory for the NDA under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership.
Speaking at Karpoorigram, the birthplace of socialist icon Karpoori Thakur, Modi accused the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress of wasting Bihar’s resources and years of progress. He drew a contrast between the “fractured INDIA alliance” and the “united NDA,” urging young voters to “choose prosperity over Jungle Raj.” The Prime Minister praised Nitish Kumar for ending lawlessness and ushering in development, asserting that “progress and Jungle Raj cannot coexist.”
Modi warned voters against returning to an era of violence and corruption, alleging that RJD’s campaign songs glorify guns and intimidation. He said the RJD had destroyed Bihar’s industrial growth in Begusarai and vowed to continue the NDA’s mission of poverty eradication and infrastructure development. “Our priority is to eradicate poverty, not just talk about it,” Modi said, adding that Bihar had received three times more central funding than during the Congress regime.
The Prime Minister also took a swipe at dynastic politics, calling the RJD and Congress “the most corrupt families” in the state and country, respectively. “They cannot be trusted with Bihar’s future,” he declared, asking the crowd to light their mobile phones as a symbol of progress over the RJD’s “lantern.” Modi paid tribute to Karpoori Thakur and reaffirmed the NDA’s commitment to his vision of social justice and inclusive growth.
Nitish Kumar thanked the Prime Minister for his focus on Bihar’s development, while Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav responded by accusing Modi of hypocrisy for ignoring alleged scams in the state government.
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