Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a fierce attack on the Opposition’s INDIA bloc, asserting that the people of Bihar would “never forget the ‘Jungle Raj” that once plagued the state. His remarks came just hours after the Opposition alliance formally declared RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Addressing BJP workers from Bihar through the ‘Mera Booth Sabse Majboot’ digital programme, the Prime Minister urged party members to actively counter the Opposition’s narrative by reminding younger voters of the state’s era of misrule.
Bihar Election 2025: PM Urges Youth to Learn from Bihar’s Past
The Prime Minister framed the election as an opportunity to secure the state’s prosperity, placing significant responsibility on the younger generation.
“Amidst the festive fervour, preparations for the worship of Chhathi Maiya are also in full swing. Alongside all this, Bihar is also celebrating the grand festival of democracy. This is an election to write a new chapter of Bihar’s prosperity. The youth of Bihar have a very significant role in this,” PM Modi said.
He then called upon party workers to connect the youth with elders to ensure that the memories of the past are not erased. “I would ask all the youth at every booth to gather together and invite elderly people from their localities to share their old experiences — those disturbing memories — so that the new generation can learn about the past,” he added.
He also hailed the power of a single vote in delivering transformative changes, stating, “All this power is the power of one vote. That vote has created such a situation that today the Ram Mandir has been built. Operation Sindoor has also been carried out, and the country is moving forward rapidly towards freedom from Naxalism. So this is the power of the vote… After removing Jungle Raj, today, the people of Bihar, under no circumstances, want to allow Jungle Raj to come back, so this is the power of the conscious citizens of Bihar.”
Bihar Election 2025: PM Modi Calls Mahagathbandhan ‘Lathbandhan’
Taking a sharp dig at the RJD and Congress-led Mahagathbandhan, PM Modi coined a new term for the alliance and accused them of prioritising self-interest over the state’s development.
“Those who call themselves the ‘Gathbandhan’ (alliance), whom the people of Bihar call the ‘Lathbandhan’ (stick alliance), only know how to use the lathi and keep fighting. For the ‘Lathbandhan,’ their own self-interest is paramount. They don’t care about the youth of Bihar,” the Prime Minister remarked, highlighting the decades the state’s youth “suffered from Naxalism and Maoist terror.”
He further linked the Naxal problem directly to the period of previous misrule. “This Maoist terror did not allow schools, colleges, or hospitals to open, and instead destroyed the already built ones. They did not allow industries to enter… It is taking a lot of effort to bring Bihar out of this,” he said, asserting that the NDA had worked hard to lead Bihar “out of the darkness of jungle raj and into the new light of development.”
He warned the Opposition that their past would not be easily forgotten, stating, “People will not forget for another 100 years ‘Jungle Raj’ in Bihar, no matter how much the Opposition tries to hide their misdeeds.”
Jibing at the RJD, he remarked on its poll symbol, the lantern, and said, “After the double-engine government came to power in 2014, a new momentum has come into the development works. The distribution of electricity has improved significantly. The improvement in electricity won’t please those with lanterns. We know that when there is sufficient electricity, industries and businesses grow, which increases employment opportunities for you.”
Bihar Election 2025: PM Modi Stresses Women’s Empowerment Agenda
As both alliances attempt to win over the crucial female vote bank, PM Modi stressed the NDA’s commitment to women-focused governance.
“Bihar’s daughters have showcased their talent everywhere… During ‘Jungle Raj’, there were scams. Our regime guarantees development. They imprisoned Bihar’s daughters within four walls. Therefore, it is crucial to keep them away from power…,” the Prime Minister said.
He highlighted the NDA’s initiatives, claiming, “Over 12 million sisters have received 10,000 rupees in each bank account to start their own businesses.” He instructed the workers to compile lists of women yet to receive CM Rojgar Yojana benefits, promising them inclusion once the new government is formed. “After coming to power on November 14th, a new era of women’s empowerment will begin in Bihar,” he promised.
The Prime Minister highlighted the link between stable governance and progress. “When there’s stability, development accelerates. This is the strength of Bihar’s NDA government, and that’s why every young person in Bihar is enthusiastically saying, ‘Raftaar pakad chuka Bihar, Phir se NDA Sarkar’ (Bihar has picked up speed, NDA government again),” he stated.
Lalu Yadav Declared Tejashwi As CM Face Through Hooliganism, Torturing Congress: Samrat Choudhary
Reacting sharply to Tejashwi Yadav’s announcement as the Opposition’s chief ministerial face, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary alleged that RJD chief Lalu Prasad had “tortured” the Congress and other INDIA bloc allies by fielding candidates against them.
“It is a black day for democracy, as the son of a registered criminal has been announced as the CM candidate,” Choudhary said during a press conference, as quoted by news agency ANI. The BJP leader further accused the RJD of overseeing “15 years of misrule in Bihar characterised by loot, fear and corruption.”
He added, “Lalu Yadav declared the CM face of Mahagathbandhan through hooliganism torturing Congress and other parties, just the way they spread Jungle Raj in Bihar… Now, his son, a registered criminal, is envisioning himself as the CM, and this is a shameful day for democracy.”
The Bihar Assembly elections will take place in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14.
Congress Emphasises Unity in INDIA Bloc
Following Tejashwi Yadav’s announcement, the Congress underscored that the INDIA bloc was not driven by a single individual but was a “people’s alliance” rooted in inclusivity and collective decision-making, PTI reported.
At a joint press conference in Patna, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said that the decision had the approval of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi. Gehlot also announced that Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni and other leaders from various communities would serve as deputy chief ministers if the bloc comes to power, reflecting the “complex social structure of Bihar.”
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, who was also present at the event, said on X, “Those hoping to stoke divisions within the INDIA bloc must be disappointed. Tejashwi Yadav has been unanimously declared the CM face for Bihar. Mukesh Sahni will serve as one of the Deputy CM candidates, alongside others representing communities that have long been denied a share in institutional power under the NDA regime. INDIA is not a one-man show. It is a people’s alliance — built on mutual respect, inclusive representation, and the principle of shared power.”
Khera further added that the Opposition had “taken the lead by announcing our face”, urging the NDA to “stop equivocating” and declare its own chief ministerial candidate.
