An electoral pledge by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Tejashwi Yadav to create a million jobs if elected to power took center stage in Bihar, a country bound for the polls, on Wednesday and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the source of funds for the plan was unclear.
At rally after rally, Yadav, who is also the main activist of the Great Opposition Alliance, repeated his promise to create more jobs if elected to power and attacked Kumar for a stagnant economy and unemployment, in the face of the loud applause from the crowd.
Nitish Kumar is physically and mentally exhausted. Rather than questioning the source of the funds, he should answer people about the scams under his administration, ”Yadav said.
Kumar rejected the allegations and reminded people of the “husband and wife” rule, a reference to Yadav’s father, Lalu Prasad, and mother, Rabri Devi, who were in power from 1990 to 2005. “Crime was in. its heyday and massacres were rampant 15 years ago. “
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The leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while acknowledging the large number of Yadav demonstrations, said that the numbers in a demonstration may not translate into votes.
“People are flocking to see it as they used to during the Lalu Prasad rally … it remains to be seen if this crowd translates into a vote. There is no comparison between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There will definitely be a big crowd as long as people look up to the prime minister, “said Prem Ranjan Patel, a BJP spokesman.
On Wednesday, Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh came out on the campaign even as Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan addressed his first in-state rally bound to the polls and the prime minister from Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, attacked the opposition.
Addressing demonstrations in Bhabua, Ara and Bhagalpur, Singh criticized Pakistan for the atrocities committed against Hindu, Sikh, Christian and other minorities. “But here in India, we have granted equal rights and the rule of law to our minorities. We brought the law against inhuman triple talaq to end the centuries-old sufferings of Muslim women, ”she said.
Paswan held a rally and road show in Paliganj, where the rebel BJP candidate Usha Vidyarthi is vying for an LJP ticket. The LJP is fighting for the assembly election on its own, although it remains part of the NDA at the Center.
He challenged Prime Minister Nitish Kumar to participate in the elections on his own. “There is great anger against the prime minister … CM has no plans for the youth. It says that not everyone can get government jobs, while the government has been unable to bring industries into the state on the pretext that Bihar is a landlocked state. “
The three-phase assembly elections begin on October 28, when 71 seats go to the polls. The campaign has been dominated by a fierce exchange between Kumar and Yadav of RJD over the latter’s promise of one million jobs. The CM has questioned where the money for these jobs would come from, while Yadav has blamed the current government for stalling the economy.
Congressional leaders Raj Babbar and Shaktisinh Gohil campaigned for the party’s candidate in Tekari and Amarpur.
Addressing a demonstration, Babbar accused the CM of “getting rid” of young people, adding that during his tenure the government could have easily given 4.5 thousand rupees of jobs to young people.
In Jamui, Adityanath attacked the head of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Asauddin Owaisi, and the leader of Congress, Rahul Gandhi, and said that the end of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status has caused them both pain. “Only two people, Owaisi and Rahul Gandhi, praise Pakistan. They cannot think about the welfare of the nation, ”he said.
BJP chief JP Nadda and Nitish Kumar addressed demonstrations in Bihar’s Champaran region, blaming the Opposition and said that Bihar underwent a change during the NDA rule.
In Kesariya, Kumar also attacked his archrival Lalu Prasad, saying that the “husband and wife”, a reference to Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, worked for themselves for 15 years.
“Crime was at its peak and massacres were rampant 15 years ago … We changed the atmosphere and now there is a rule of law and justice in the state,” Kumar said.
At another rally in Parsa, Kumar’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by Prasad supporters. “Do not bother. If you don’t want to vote, don’t. By doing this, you will harm the person you are here for, ”Kumar said angrily.
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