PM Modi Concludes Campaign, Hails Bihar's First Phase as a Decisive Blow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought his high-octane campaign for the Bihar Assembly elections to a close on Saturday, declaring that the first phase of polling had delivered a powerful "65-volt shock" to the proponents of "jungle raj." Addressing energetic rallies in the historic regions of Sitamarhi and Champaran, the Prime Minister expressed his confidence in the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) prospects, thanking the state's women and young voters for their pivotal support.
A People's Campaign and a Resounding Message
As campaigning for the second phase, which concludes on Sunday, reached its peak, PM Modi framed the election as a contest driven by the people of Bihar themselves. "My campaign might be ending today… but Bihar’s youth, women, middle class, farmers, rural and urban population — everyone has taken up the responsibility for the NDA campaign," he stated. He emphasized that the elections were no longer just about the NDA, himself, or Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, but a movement being contested by the populace of the state.
Directing his remarks at the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, Modi asserted that the record voter turnout in the initial phase signaled a clear public mandate for development (vikas) and a rejection of the past era often referred to as "jungle raj." He highlighted the crucial role of specific demographics, stating, "All around, there is talk that the youth of Bihar have chosen vikas, have chosen the NDA. Bihar’s sisters and daughters too have sealed NDA’s victory."
Senior Leaders Amplify the NDA's Narrative
The NDA's final push featured key addresses from other top-tier leaders. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, campaigning aggressively in the Purnea, Katihar, and Supaul constituencies of the Seemanchal region, launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav.
Shah accused them of planning to turn the region into a "den" of infiltrators. He reassured voters of the government's resolve, stating, "The Centre would identify every illegal immigrant, delete their names from the electoral rolls and deport them." He urged the public to defeat the RJD-Congress alliance, linking it to Rahul Gandhi's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra.'
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh focused his criticism on the Congress's alleged divisive politics. He accused the party of seeking to split the nation along caste and religious lines and also targeted Rahul Gandhi for his remarks concerning the popular Chhath Puja festival. Singh further dismissed the Opposition Leader's allegations of vote theft as an attempt to mislead the citizens.
With the second phase of polling scheduled for November 11, the political battleground in Bihar has been firmly set, with the ruling alliance projecting an air of invincibility fueled by the initial voter response.
