Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to blaze the campaign trail for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar on Thursday with a rally scheduled in Jamui, marking his first appearance in the state since the announcement of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Running for a third consecutive term in office, Modi's rally in Jamui, slated for noon, holds significant importance as he gears up to address the electorate ahead of the polls.
Expressing gratitude for the prime minister's decision to commence his campaign from Jamui, BJP ally Chirag Paswan lauded the gesture, affirming the Lok Janshakti Party's commitment to support Modi's vision of securing over 400 seats for the NDA, including Bihar's 40 constituencies.
"It is a matter of pride for Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the people of Jamui that the prime minister has agreed to launch his campaign in Bihar from the constituency. We are committed to helping him achieve the target of 400 plus seats for NDA, including all the 40 in Bihar," said Paswan.
Predictably, the opposition wants the prime minister, the NDA's main crowd puller, to be held accountable for the alleged failures of his government, especially with respect to Bihar.
Former deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "Be it the prime minister or any other leader, they will be on the campaign trail during polls. But the people of Bihar want to know what have they got in return for the enormous support they gave to NDA five years ago."
"In the last Lok Sabha polls, 39 out of the 40 seats in Bihar went to the NDA. But now the people feel they have been taken for a ride," alleged Yadav.
However, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hit back, saying, "In his speech in Jamui tomorrow, the PM will enlist his achievements and share his vision for the future. On the other hand, the opposition has nothing to offer so it is busy heaping insults on Modi."
Notably, Jamui is among four Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, the other three being Aurangabad, Gaya and Nawada, which go to polls in the first phase on April 19.
Of these, the BJP is contesting Aurangabad, where Modi had addressed a rally a week before the Election Commission announced Lok Sabha polls, and Nawada, where he is scheduled to address a rally on Sunday.
Gaya, which is also a reserved constituency, is being fought by former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, the founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha.
The NDA in Bihar also includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), which is contesting 16 seats, one less than the BJP, and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha, which will fight Katakat.
Chirag Paswan's party is fielding candidates in five seats, including Hajipur, his late father Ram Vilas Paswan's pocket borough, where he is trying his luck this time.
Follow us
