Nitish Won’t Be CM If NDA Returns: Yadav

Patna: Launching an attack on the ruling NDA in Bihar, Mahagathbandhan chief ministerial face and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday asserted that Bihar is still a "poor state" despite 20 years of rule by the JD(U)-led NDA. He also claimed that the incumbent CM Nitish Kumar will not helm the post again if the ruling alliance is voted back to power in the impending polls. The RJD leader held rallies in Saharsa, Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur during the day, campaigning for the Opposition in the poll-bound state.

Addressing a rally at Simri Bakhtiyarpur in Saharsa district, the RJD leader claimed, "(Union home minister) Amit Shah has made it clear that elected legislators will decide the CM of Bihar after elections. He has made it clear that Mr Kumar will not be made the CM if the NDA is voted to power again.”

Addressing the gathering, Mr Yadav promised that he will present a clean government if the Opposition alliance comes to power in the state. The former deputy CM also said that he will ensure a government that would listen to the people's grievances and provide affordable medicines and jobs to them.

"As a Bihari, I feel anguished to see the poor condition of Bihar. It gives me pain when I see widespread unemployment, rampant corruption and a prevailing sense of impunity among criminals. Despite 20 years of the NDA rule in Bihar and 11 years at the Centre, the state's per capita income is the lowest and farmers remain poor," Mr Yadav claimed.

The RJD leader also charged the Centre with using probe agencies against the Opposition leaders, including him and his family members. "Lalu Prasad Yadav did not fear (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. His son is also not afraid," he said.

The former deputy CM said people want a Bihar that is "free of corruption and crime and attracts investment for growth". "What the NDA government has failed to do in 20 years, I will do in 20 months," he asserted as he appealed to the voters to "give Tejashwi a chance".

The RJD leader announced that if voted to power, the INDIA bloc will "bring down the price of LPG cylinders to `500 from around `1,000, increase the old-age pension to `1,500 from `1,100, regularise the services of contractual workers and community mobilisers, and provide a government job in each household of Bihar."

The Mahagathbandhan chief ministerial candidate also highlighted the achievements of his brief tenure as deputy CM of Bihar. "I gave jobs in my 17-month tenure. After that, the NDA government failed to continue the momentum. We made IT, tourism and sports policies. We brought investments worth `50,000 crores. We built sewage treatment plants in 20 cities. We increased the limit of reservation and conducted a caste-based census," he said.

"Mr Modi had promised to give 2 crore jobs each year. Where is the account of 22 crore jobs in 11 years?" asked the RJD leader. Drawing a contrast, he said, "Tejashwi does what he says. He doesn't make hollow promises."

With INDIA bloc's deputy CM face and VIP chief Mukesh Sahani by his side, Mr Yadav said that "one more deputy CM face representing another section of society will be announced by the INDIA bloc in the next few days".

While addressing another public meeting at Darbhanga’s Keoti, Mr Yadav took a jibe at the Bihar CM and said, "Our 'chacha' (Mr Kumar) is not in control of things. He has been hijacked by Mr Modi and Mr Shah, who are operating in Bihar from outside."

Mr Yadav said: "The INDIA bloc is working to save the Constitution, democracy and fraternity. We will not let anyone tinker with our Constitution and democracy by playing Hindu-Muslim politics."

The RID claimed if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, there will be "zero tolerance" for criminals. "Be it from our camp or from others, whoever commits a crime will be punished. Even if Tejashwi's shadow gets involved in crime, he will be punished," the RJD leader asserted.

Mr Yadav promised that if his party comes to power, it will set up agro-based and food processing industries in the region, and sugar mills will start functioning properly. "If we come to power, Makhana will be packed from this land, and not from other states, before it is exported to foreign markets," he said.

At the third rally in Muzaffarpur during the day, Mr Yadav claimed, "Muzaffarpur is known across the globe for its litchis. What has the NDA government done to promote the fruit? Nothing."

The former deputy CM also claimed that he "will make a world record in providing employment once his alliance is voted to power in the 2025 Assembly election".

Responding to Mr Modi's charges of 'jungle raj' that prevailed during the RJD rule in Bihar, Mr Yadav said, "The Prime Minister had himself recounted 55 scams of the Mr Kumar government. What action has he taken? Jungle raj is where no appropriate action is taken against scams and where criminals roam free."

Alleging that the BJP-ruled states witness the most criminal activities in the country, Mr Yadav said, "I don't tell half-truths and lies… If the INDIA bloc wins the elections, Tejashwi will become the CM, and the people will become 'chinta mukt' (tension-free). I will ensure there will be no crime and present a corruption-free government in Bihar."