Bihar – Prime Minister Narendra Modi dropped a political bombshell during his Bihar campaign in Arrah on Sunday with a sensational Modi Tejashwi CM claim, alleging that the Rashtriya Janata Dal forced Congress to announce Tejashwi Yadav as the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate through coercive tactics. The PM’s explosive allegations included gun references and accusations of “gundagardi” within the opposition alliance.
‘Insider Information’ on Closed-Door Politics
The Modi Tejashwi CM claim was presented as exclusive insider knowledge of what transpired behind closed doors just before nomination filing. “Today I will tell you insider information. Just a day before nomination filing, behind closed doors, gundagardi (hooliganism) was happening,” the Prime Minister said while addressing the rally in Arrah, speaking in Hindi.
This Modi Tejashwi CM claim suggested that far from being a democratic decision-making process, the announcement of Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face was the result of pressure tactics and internal arm-twisting within the opposition coalition. The timing of the revelation—coming during the crucial campaign period—was clearly designed to damage the Mahagathbandhan’s credibility among voters.
‘Kanpatti Pe Katta’ Allegation
The most striking aspect of the Modi Tejashwi CM claim involved the use of street language to describe the alleged power play. Using the phrase “kanpatti pe katta” (gun to the temple), Modi painted a vivid picture of coercion. “Congress did not want to have an RJD CM, but RJD did not leave the opportunity. They put a gun to Congress’s head and stole the CM’s post,” the Prime Minister declared.
This Modi Tejashwi CM claim portrayed the RJD as having metaphorically held Congress at gunpoint, forcing them to accept Tejashwi Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate against their will. The dramatic imagery was designed to suggest that the Mahagathbandhan was not a coalition of equals but rather one dominated by strong-arm tactics.
Congress ‘Forcibly Made’ to Announce
Elaborating on the Modi Tejashwi CM claim, the PM stated that “Congress was forcibly made to announce the CM candidate with a gun to their head.” This characterization suggested that the national party had been bulldozed by its regional ally on one of the most crucial decisions facing any electoral alliance.
The Modi Tejashwi CM claim further alleged that Congress was not even consulted when the RJD-led alliance made its manifesto, indicating a pattern of exclusion and domination rather than collaborative decision-making. By highlighting these alleged internal tensions, Modi sought to raise questions about the stability and viability of a potential Mahagathbandhan government.
‘Gundagardi’ vs Development Partnership
Calling the alleged RJD tactics “gundagardi,” the Modi Tejashwi CM claim contrasted the opposition’s internal dysfunction with the NDA’s projected unity. “The NDA in turn has been working together, hand in hand for Bihar’s development,” the Prime Minister stated, positioning his alliance as the stable, development-focused alternative.
The Modi Tejashwi CM claim also included a prediction that the Mahagathbandhan alliance would likely “break each other’s heads” after the election, suggesting that even if they won power, internal conflicts would make governance impossible.
Increased RJD-Congress Tensions
According to the Modi Tejashwi CM claim, “The fight between RJD and Congress has increased a lot.” This assertion was meant to convince voters that the opposition alliance was on the verge of collapse, held together only by the immediate goal of winning elections, with no shared vision for Bihar’s future.
The Modi Tejashwi CM claim suggested that these tensions would inevitably surface post-election, leading to political instability and paralysis in governance—a scenario the PM painted as disastrous for Bihar’s development.
‘Jungle Raj’ Era Invoked
The Modi Tejashwi CM claim was reinforced by invoking memories of the RJD’s infamous “jungle raj” era. “On one side is NDA’s governance, and on the other side is the misgovernance of ‘jungle raaj’ era. That time of darkness slowly emptied out Bihar,” the Prime Minister said.
This historical reference in the Modi Tejashwi CM claim was designed to trigger negative memories among voters who had lived through that period, creating fear about a potential return to lawlessness and poor governance.
‘Infiltrators’ Allegation
The Modi Tejashwi CM claim expanded beyond internal coalition dynamics to include allegations about the Mahagathbandhan’s stance on demographic issues. The PM alleged that the RJD-Congress alliance is looking to “erase Bihar’s identity” by supporting “infiltrators.”
“These people are conducting yatras in support of infiltrators in Bihar. These people are fully dedicated, body and soul, to saving the infiltrators,” Modi said, apparently referring to Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra concerning exclusions from voter lists. This aspect of the Modi Tejashwi CM claim attempted to frame the opposition’s advocacy work as support for illegal immigration.
Electoral Context and Implications
The timing of the Modi Tejashwi CM claim is significant as Bihar prepares to vote for its 243-seat Assembly in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting scheduled for November 14. The explosive nature of these allegations suggests that the BJP views aggressive campaigning as crucial for electoral success.
Strategic Objectives
The Modi Tejashwi CM claim serves multiple strategic purposes: questioning the legitimacy of Tejashwi Yadav’s CM candidature, exposing alleged internal divisions within the Mahagathbandhan, positioning NDA as the stable alternative, and raising concerns about governance stability under opposition rule.
By presenting these allegations as “insider information,” the Modi Tejashwi CM claim attempts to give them credibility while simultaneously undermining the opposition’s electoral narrative and unity in the crucial final days of campaigning.
