In his first public remarks following a significant electoral setback, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar assembly, launched a sharp critique of the recently concluded state polls. Speaking on Saturday, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader alleged widespread malpractice, questioning the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and claiming the influence of "invisible forces."
Postal Ballots vs EVMs: A Central Contradiction
Tejashwi Yadav, who was the chief ministerial face for the opposition INDIA bloc, pointed to a specific discrepancy to bolster his claims. He revealed that while the postal ballots indicated a lead for the INDIA alliance in 143 out of Bihar's 243 constituencies, the final results from the EVMs told a completely different story, ultimately favouring the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"The postal ballots showed the INDIA bloc was leading in 143 assembly constituencies," Yadav stated in an interview with a private news channel. He quipped, "EVMs badlao nahin chahta tha, ballot chahta tha" (Ballots wanted change, EVMs did not). This divergence, he argued, was a core issue that remained unexplained.
Allegations of a Fixed Election and Financial Influence
The RJD leader painted a picture of an uneven playing field, asserting that the election was essentially predetermined. "Matlab chunav ka koi matlab nahin tha...Sab kuchh fixed tha" (Meaning there was no point in conducting elections as everything was fixed), he claimed. He accused the ruling coalition of leaving nothing to chance, highlighting the distribution of government funds.
Yadav alleged that on the very day of polling, women received deposits of Rs 10,000 in their bank accounts as part of pre-poll announcements. He estimated that the government distributed a staggering Rs 40,000 crore through various schemes, which he said unfairly influenced voters and went largely unchallenged.
Questioning the Verdict and the "Nitish Model"
Despite the defeat, Tejashwi Yadav highlighted that the INDIA bloc secured 1.90 crore votes, which was 32 lakh more than its tally in the previous assembly elections. "Obviously the people wanted change, not to vote for the 20-year-old govt," he contended. He dismissed the outcome as a "victory of machinery" rather than the people's will.
He sarcastically described the winning formula as the "Nitish Model"—"Doing nothing for five years but distributing money to everyone three months before the start of assembly polls." He also expressed bewilderment at the uniform voting patterns across diverse regions of Bihar like Seemanchal, Magadh, and Champaran, questioning their authenticity.
On Dynasty Politics and a Defiant Future Stance
Addressing the NDA's criticism of dynastic politics or 'Parivarvad', Yadav turned the tables. He found it ironic that family members of NDA allies like Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha were awarded cabinet positions. He also mocked the BJP's 'Jungle Raj' narrative against the RJD, suggesting that National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows a rise in criminal incidents post-2005 when the NDA first came to power in the state.
Striking a defiant note for the future, Tejashwi Yadav asserted that the BJP would not win forever. "We are not going to be cowed down by their threats. Our responsibility is to save the Constitution...Well, time is not favourable for us right now, but BJP ka ektarfa raj karne ka sapna jaroor tutega" (the BJP's dream of unilateral rule will certainly break), he declared. While admitting he currently lacks scientific evidence for his EVM doubts, he assured that the "truth will emerge in the coming days."
