Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan's Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.
Prasad questioned Tejashwi's credibility, citing his father Lalu Prasad's 32.5-year sentence in fodder scam cases and Tejashwi's own legal troubles under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Emphasising the development agenda of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Prasad stated, "PM Modi and Nitish Kumar will develop Bihar with the double-engine government," as the electoral battle in Bihar intensifies.
In an media briefing, Prasad sharply criticised Tejashwi, saying, "What is he saying? Does he even understand what he is saying? His father has been sentenced to 32.5 years in jail in four cases of the fodder scam. He is on trial in the CBI Court in Delhi... Tejashwi Yadav is also an accused of Section 420 of the IPC... The people of Bihar are well aware of who has contributed to Bihar's development. PM Modi and Nitish Kumar will develop Bihar. This is the double-engine government."
His remarks underscored the BJP's confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, portraying their alliance as the key to the state's progress.
Earlier that day, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, appointed as the senior election observer by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), officially announced Tejashwi Yadav as the Mahagathbandhan's Chief Ministerial candidate for the Bihar assembly elections, scheduled for November 6 and 7.
Speaking at a press conference, Gehlot said, "Everyone should be worried (about the situation in the country). This is why I can say that after consulting Kharge ji, Rahul ji, and others who are sitting here, Tejashwi Yadav is the CM candidate for this election. He is a young person. He has a long future, and the public will support him." Gehlot highlighted Tejashwi's youth and potential, expressing confidence in his ability to garner public support.
Gehlot also voiced concerns about the state of the nation and Bihar, criticising the NDA government at the Centre for its governance style, which he described as a "threat to democracy".
He elaborated, "It is obvious to get worried about the condition of the country and the state. The situation is serious. The way the NDA government operates is a threat to democracy. There is polarisation. Nobody knows in which direction the country is heading. If you criticise, you are sent to jail – it doesn't matter if you are a journalist or activist. It is our responsibility to keep in mind what the country wants. The country is watching Bihar. The issue of unemployment remains. People want change."
Gehlot emphasised the need for change in Bihar, pointing to issues like unemployment as key concerns for voters.
The press conference saw the presence of several prominent leaders from the Mahagathbandhan and the INDIA bloc, including CPI (ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram, Bihar Congress incharge Krishna Allavaru, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) convenor Mukesh Sahani, among others. Mukesh Sahani, the leader of the Vikassheel Insaan Party, was named as the Mahagathbandhan's Deputy Chief Ministerial nominee, further solidifying the coalition's leadership lineup.
Also Read: All is well in Mahagathbandhan says Bihar Congress chief Ram
The 2025 Bihar assembly elections are poised to be a high-stakes contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. The NDA coalition comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM-S), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM). On the other hand, the Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), includes the Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP).
Adding to the electoral fray, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party has announced its intention to contest all 243 seats in the Bihar assembly, potentially complicating the dynamics of the two-phase election scheduled for November 6 and 11. The results of the elections will be declared on November 14, determining the political future of the state.
Also Read: BJP mocks Cong as Rahul absent from Mahagathbandhan's poster
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