Amit Shah sounds poll bugle in Bihar, says NDA to win 2/3rd majority

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (June 7) sounded the poll bugle for Bihar, where assembly elections are due this year, while asserting that the ruling NDA alliance will win the elections with a two-third majority under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.

The former BJP chief set the tone for the upcoming assembly polls as he listed the steps taken by the Narendra Mod-led central government for the welfare of the poor amidst the fight against the pandemic, during a virtual rally of the party.

Addressing party workers and the people of Bihar, Shah attacked the opposition RJD saying that the growth rate of the state was just 3.9 per cent when the party was in power, but it rose to 11.3 per cent during the NDA regime.

Related news: Oppn sees an agenda in BJP’s demand for online polls to Bihar assembly

The state moved from ‘lalten raj’ to ‘LED raj’, he said referring to the RJD’s poll symbol of lamp. At the same time, he asserted that this rally had nothing to do with Bihar poll campaign and was aimed at connecting with people during the fight against COVID-19.

“This rally is aimed at connecting people with ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign. The BJP will have 75 such meetings,” he said. Shah applauded both Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, saying they were working for the people though they might lack in publicising it.

He said during the rule of JD(U)-BJP alliance, Bihar came out of ‘Jungle Raj’ to ‘Janta ka Raj’. Taking a dig at the RJD which protested against his virtual rally by beating utensils, Shah asked if anyone had stopped them from holding a rally, and added they were relaxing in Delhi.

He said though the opposition leaders dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to unite the country in the fight against COVID-9 as political propaganda, but the nation stood with him and followed his appeals.

Related news: Political parties in poll-bound Bihar take virtual route for campaign

The central government safely ferried 1.25 crore migrants to their respective destinations after the required health infrastructure was ramped up to meet their needs, he said.

Talking about achievements of Modi government, he said issues which none dared to touch in 70 years were resolved in the first year of the Modi government’s second term, and referred to the scrapping of Article 370 provisions and the law against triple talaq.

Citing various steps for the welfare of the poor and the needy taken by Modi government amidst the fight against the pandemic, Shah asked what the opposition did for them besides doing politics.

(With inputs from agencies)