Bihar – As campaigning concluded for the first phase of the Bihar assembly election, BJP National President JP Nadda launched a scathing attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), claiming the party’s acronym represents “Rangdari” (extortion), “Jungle Raj” (lawless rule), and “Dadagiri” (bullying). Addressing a public meeting in Madhuban on Tuesday, Nadda sought to remind voters of what he characterized as the dark period of RJD governance while contrasting it with the development achievements of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
Nadda’s Sharp Criticism of RJD Leadership
During his address at the Bihar assembly election rally, JP Nadda specifically targeted RJD leaders Lalu Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav, accusing them of attempting to deceive voters with “new, alluring promises” despite their past association with lawlessness and hooliganism. The BJP president emphasized that the RJD’s historical legacy continues to define the party, regardless of its current campaign rhetoric.
Nadda referenced a controversial 2003 rally organized by Lalu Yadav in Patna, titled “Tel Pilawan, Lathiya Bhajan” (Oiling the sticks, breaking the sticks). According to the BJP chief, this rally exemplified the RJD’s approach to governance during the Bihar assembly election campaign period then. “Through this Tel Pilawan, Lathiya Bhajan rally, RJD supporters had attempted to spread fear and terror in Lalu’s name by wielding lathis,” Nadda stated, invoking memories of what he described as an era of intimidation and violence.
BJP’s Counter to Employment Promises
Addressing the employment promises made by the opposition during the Bihar assembly election campaign, Nadda took aim at Tejashwi Yadav’s pledge to provide jobs to every family. The BJP president expressed skepticism about the feasibility of such commitments, suggesting they were unrealistic and misleading. “Tejashwi says we will give jobs to every family. When we give jobs to every family, not an inch of corner land will be left in Bihar,” Nadda remarked, implying that the opposition’s promises were impractical and designed solely to win votes.
This critique forms part of the BJP’s broader strategy in the Bihar assembly election to position itself as the party of realistic governance and achievable development goals, contrasting its approach with what it characterizes as the opposition’s empty rhetoric.
Attack on Congress and Mahagathbandhan
Expanding his criticism beyond the RJD, JP Nadda also targeted the Congress party, the other major constituent of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) opposing the NDA in the Bihar assembly election. The BJP president claimed that Congress lacks both strategy and clear objectives in the electoral contest. “The Congress has no strategy nor any goal in the Bihar Assembly elections. There is a wave of NDA in Bihar, and our government is being formed with a massive majority,” Nadda declared confidently.
This assertion reflects the BJP’s confidence about its prospects in the Bihar assembly election, with party leadership projecting a decisive victory for the NDA coalition led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the BJP.
Highlighting NDA’s Development Agenda
Central to Nadda’s speech at the Bihar assembly election rally was the emphasis on development achievements under the NDA government. The BJP president hailed what he called the “rapid development in Bihar under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,” characterizing the current period as the state’s “golden era.”
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“Today’s Bihar is rapidly advancing on the path of development, and for that, under the guidance of Modi Ji, Nitish Kumar Ji is working with full strength and dedication. This is Bihar’s golden era, a hallmark of a bright future,” Nadda proclaimed. He urged Bihar residents to contribute to the creation of “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Bihar” (Developed India, Developed Bihar), linking the state’s progress to the broader national development vision.
Twenty Years of NDA Governance
Reflecting on two decades of NDA rule in Bihar, Nadda argued that the Bihar assembly election represents a crucial opportunity to provide stability and fresh momentum to the state’s development trajectory. “The development train of Bihar has been set on track in the NDA government over the last 20 years. This election is to provide stability to Bihar and to give a new momentum to development,” he stated.
The BJP president made a pointed appeal to voters, urging them not to forget what he termed the “darkness of RJD” rule and to choose the NDA’s vision of progress instead. This contrast between the alleged chaos of previous RJD governments and the claimed development under NDA rule forms the cornerstone of the BJP’s campaign strategy in the Bihar assembly election.
Election Schedule and Stakes
The Bihar assembly election will determine the composition of the state’s 243-seat Assembly through voting in two phases scheduled for November 6 and November 11. The counting of votes is set for November 14, when the political future of India’s third-most populous state will be decided.
The Bihar assembly election carries significant implications not just for state governance but also for national politics. A strong NDA performance would consolidate the coalition’s hold on a major Hindi heartland state, while a Mahagathbandhan victory would provide momentum to opposition forces ahead of future electoral contests.
Political Significance
As the Bihar assembly election campaigning concluded for the first phase, both alliances have presented starkly different visions for the state. The NDA has focused on development credentials and administrative stability, while the Mahagathbandhan has emphasized social justice, employment generation, and addressing what it characterizes as unfulfilled promises of the current government.
Nadda’s aggressive rhetoric in Madhuban exemplifies the high-stakes nature of the Bihar assembly election, with both sides recognizing that the outcome will shape Bihar’s political landscape for years to come. The reference to historical events and the invocation of the “Jungle Raj” narrative demonstrate the BJP’s strategy of making this election a referendum on contrasting governance models.
