Battle for Bihar: PM Modi alleges Congress, RJD 'princes' at loggerheads

New Delhi: Prime minister Narendra Modi alleged on Sunday that Congress and its ally RJD were engaged in a fierce fight for one-upmanship and the "yuvarajs" - Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav - of the two parties are trying to pull each other down. At two BJP election rallies in Arrah and Nawada, he said RJD forced Congress "with a gun to its head" to agree to declaring that if their alliance wins, the chief ministership will go to the former.

"Today, the whole of NDA is moving forward with the pledge of developing Bihar. On the other hand, there is a raging conflict between Congress and RJD. I am telling you some inside information, a day before nominations ended, a game of gundagardi took place behind closed doors. Congress never wanted the name of a RJD leader to be declared for the CM's post. But RJD did not let go of the opportunity. RJD put a gun to Congress' head and stole the post of CM. They ensured that the announcement was made. Congress was forcefully asked to make the announcement with a gun to its head," Modi said in Arrah.

He alleged that the fight between Congress and RJD has escalated to an extent that Congress was neither consulted on the manifesto nor is it getting any importance in the campaign. "The hatred has increased so much even before elections; after the polls they will break each other's heads. Hence, always remember, such people can never work for the benefit of Bihar," the prime minister said.


Alluding to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Congress' Rahul Gandhi, Modi said the "yuvaraj of jungle raj" is fighting with the "Congress Yuvaraj". Congress has decided to ensure RJD's defeat at every booth, he added.

The PM praised Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for his "impressive leadership" but added in the same breath that NDA has other leaders like Dilip Jaiswal, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Chirag Paswan, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha as well.

He charged the erstwhile RJD government was not only responsible for jungle raj but also for fanning Maoist violence. The state is now free from these "double attacks". In both speeches, he reiterated NDA has worked for the backward classes through its welfare schemes for farmers, women and the poor. He claimed that the day is not far when mobile phones will be manufactured in Bihar.