Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday addressed the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state executive meeting in Patna, seeking to bolster party workers’ morale ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
In a strongly worded speech, Singh said the Indian public had lost trust in certain political leaders, but the BJP had risen to the occasion.
“You are not workers of an ordinary party. In independent India, the public gradually lost trust in politicians because of the gap between what they said and what they did. But you can proudly say that if any party has accepted this challenge amidst such distrust, it is the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he said.
Singh asserted that the BJP-led government had fulfilled all the promises made in its election manifesto and reminded party workers that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term still had four years to deliver further results.
Highlighting Bihar’s cultural and historical legacy, Singh drew attention to the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, where a backdrop featuring Nalanda University had been installed. He noted that this reflected Bihar's role as a bridge between Indian and Chinese civilisations.
“Before coming to Bihar, I participated in the SCO meeting. Few people know that the backdrop used during the event displayed Nalanda University. After my bilateral meeting with the Chinese Defence Minister General Dong Jun, I presented him with a Madhubani painting titled ‘Tree of Life’.
Staying in Patna reminded me of the Tree of Life, and I believe the BJP is like a tree, with its workers acting as strong roots. That is why the BJP is today the world’s largest political party,” Singh remarked.
Referencing Bihar’s historical contributions, the minister said Patna was described as the land of wisdom, crafted by Lord Vishwakarma to showcase his skills before Lord Brahma.
He also invoked the legacy of Patliputra, which was once ruled by the Emperor Ashoka, who spread the messages of peace, Dhamma globally. He recalled the political teachings of Chanakya and the mathematical, astronomical achievements of Aryabhatta, positioning Bihar as a cradle of ancient Indian knowledge.
Encouraging party workers to take pride in their heritage, Singh called on them to draw strength from Bihar’s past while preparing for the upcoming elections.
“You all are not ordinary workers; you are the creators of a golden Bihar. Let this meeting not just be a party meeting but a meeting of resolution — a resolution that will take Bihar and India forward,” he said.
Assembly elections in Bihar are expected to take place later this year, likely in October or November, although the Election Commission of India has not yet announced an official date.
In the current 243-member Bihar Assembly, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds 131 seats, with the BJP accounting for 80, JD(U) 45, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) 4, and support from 2 independent MLAs.
The Opposition’s INDIA bloc has 111 MLAs, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) with 77 seats. The Congress holds 19, the CPI(ML) 11, and both the CPI(M) and CPI have 2 seats each.
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