Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday intensified the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) campaign in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, asserting that the people of the state were “fully aware” of the difference between those who governed with integrity and those who dragged Bihar into lawlessness and decline. Addressing back-to-back rallies in Ara and Nawada, Modi described the NDA’s manifesto as an “honest and farsighted blueprint” for Bihar’s development, while calling the opposition’s document a “bundle of lies and deceit.”
Modi invokes Bihar’s past to warn against “Jungle Raj”
“The people understand everything—ye public hai, sab jaanti hai,” Modi declared to loud cheers. “Those who plundered Bihar and pushed it into the dark period of jungle raj, unleashing lawlessness, closing industries like Dalmianagar in Rohtas, which once thrived with sugar, paper, and cement units, and forcing our youth to migrate, cannot be trusted to bring development,” he said.
The Prime Minister reminded the audience of the pre-2005 period, marked by kidnappings, extortion, and frequent massacres. “Back then, even doctors had to move with security guards, fearing abduction. People who got a salary hike would tremble, expecting an extortion call the next day. Those were days of fear and humiliation for honest citizens,” he said, drawing a sharp contrast with the NDA’s two decades of governance under Nitish Kumar and his own administration at the Centre.
“NDA united, Opposition divided”
At both rallies, Modi described the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress alliance as a coalition of contradictions, held together by “lust for power, not vision.” He alleged that the Mahagathbandhan was composed of “the most corrupt family of Bihar and the most corrupt family of India,” a clear swipe at the Yadav and Gandhi families. “Their only competition is over who can pull the other down faster,” he quipped, describing the alliance as fragmented and directionless.
In contrast, he portrayed the NDA as a “cohesive family bound by a common goal — Bihar’s development.” Modi credited the Nitish Kumar-led government for “pulling Bihar out of the dark era and putting it on the launchpad of progress.” He asserted that there was “no room anymore in Bihar for jungle raj and the red flags of Maoist terror,” claiming that the state now boasted “a chain of new institutions in education, health, and skill development.”
On Congress–RJD tensions and “forced” CM face
Modi also sought to highlight rifts within the opposition, suggesting that the Congress had been “forced under pressure” to declare an RJD nominee as the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face. “The Congress never wanted an RJD candidate to be declared CM face. But the RJD forced Congress to announce it, almost at gunpoint in a closed room,” he said. According to Modi, the Congress’s inputs were disregarded entirely when the alliance’s manifesto was drafted.
He added that while the Congress was embroiled in internal dissent, its alliance with the RJD was one of “mutual distrust and opportunism.” “Can such a team ever run a stable and honest government?” he asked.
Linking opposition to “sins of the past”
In a pointed reference to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Modi accused the Congress of having “no remorse for its sins.” “It was on November 1 and 2, 1984, that Sikhs were massacred in the streets of Delhi. Today, on the same date, Congress is giving new positions within its party to those responsible,” he said.
He also targeted RJD leaders for allegedly insulting Bihar’s cultural traditions. “During the Maha Kumbh, RJD leaders called it faltu (useless), and now a Congress leader calls Chhath Puja ‘drama’. How can people who mock our festivals respect Bihar’s values?” he asked. “We in the NDA worship the Sun God during Chhath; we also harness solar power to light up homes — this is our difference.”
“Viksit Bihar, Viksit Bharat”
Modi framed his message around the slogan “Viksit Bihar, Viksit Bharat”, saying that the state’s development was crucial to India’s overall progress. “When I talk about a developed Bihar, I mean a Bihar where industries return, where youth get jobs in their own land, where women are empowered and farmers are prosperous,” he said.
He added that the NDA’s manifesto was not just a document but a “vision rooted in Modi’s guarantee.” “When Modi gives a guarantee, it is fulfilled,” he said, citing examples such as the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmirand Operation Sindoor, a military offensive he said forced Pakistan into retreat. “While you felt pride, the Congress royal family was losing sleep. Till today, both the Congress and Pakistan are unable to recover from that shock,” he said, accusing the opposition of being soft on national security and sympathetic to infiltrators.
Economic pledges and welfare assurances
Highlighting the NDA’s welfare record, Modi said that schemes such as Lakhpati Didi and CM Mahila Rozgaar Yojanahad empowered more than 1.30 crore women in Bihar, who each received ₹10,000 under state support. “After the elections, this programme will be expanded further to scale up their businesses and ensure economic independence,” he promised.
He also referred to the Kisan Samman Nidhi, under which farmers receive ₹6,000 annually from the Centre, and announced that the Nitish Kumar government had decided to add ₹3,000 more — raising total annual support to ₹9,000. “Small farmers who once had no bank accounts are now directly receiving money in their accounts. This is Modi’s guarantee of transparency. Had there been a Congress government, the money would have disappeared halfway,” he said, recalling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s remark that only “15 paise of every rupee” sent by the Centre reached the poor.
Modi said the NDA had brought small and marginal farmers into the mainstream of agricultural growth through direct benefit transfers, irrigation schemes, and crop insurance programmes. He also underscored the NDA’s promise to focus on education and skills. “Bihar has the youngest population in India. This is our biggest strength. Our government will create an ecosystem where Bihar’s youth can work here, not migrate elsewhere,” he said.
Bihar’s industrial vision and cultural legacy
Outlining a roadmap for Bihar’s industrial revival, Modi said the state would soon emerge as an MSME hub, with new opportunities in textiles, technology, and tourism. “Bihar will play a big role in the Make in India initiative. Our vision is to make it the industrial heart of eastern India,” he added.
He promised to develop historical and cultural sites as part of the government’s heritage tourism plan, citing the examples of Babu Veer Kunwar Singh, the hero of the 1857 revolt, and Sachidanand Sinha, the first chairman of India’s Constituent Assembly. “The land that gave birth to such heroes deserves to be developed in keeping with their legacy,” he said.
“Biggest NDA victory coming”
Modi concluded by asserting that the “mood in Bihar” indicated a resounding NDA victory. “The youth, farmers, and women of Bihar have made up their minds. The NDA will win with a record margin, and the leaders of jungle raj will face their most crushing defeat. Even those sitting in Delhi and projecting numbers will be stunned,” he said, urging voters to remain vigilant against attempts to divide them.
Reiterating that “Viksit Bihar is the foundation of Viksit Bharat,” Modi said the NDA’s vision was not just about governance but about restoring Bihar’s pride. “I have come to seek your blessings once again,” he said. “Your trust will ensure that Bihar never slips back into darkness again.”
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