Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, launched a scathing attack on RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav during a press conference in Patna on Sunday. The senior JD(U) leader accused the opposition leader of misleading the public and facing severe consequences for his actions during the recent Bihar assembly elections.
Election Setback and Premature Swearing-In Plans
Singh specifically targeted Tejashwi Yadav's decision to fix his swearing-in ceremony date before the election results were announced. The minister mocked this move as an overconfident strategy that backfired spectacularly when the opposition INDIA bloc managed to win only 35 assembly seats against the NDA's impressive tally of 202 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly.
"You set out to play the leader, and look where you have ended up. You have barely managed to become leader of the opposition," Singh remarked sarcastically during his interaction with reporters. The Union Minister, who holds portfolios for fisheries, animal husbandry & dairying, and panchayati raj, didn't mince words while criticizing the opposition's performance.
Allegations of Spreading Confusion
Singh accused Tejashwi Yadav of deliberately creating confusion among the public regarding the government's scheme to provide Rs 10,000 to 1.40 crore women in Bihar. He asserted that the RJD leader faced electoral punishment for this alleged misinformation campaign.
"He faced the consequences of spreading confusion in society. Nobody knows where he is hiding right now," Singh commented, taking a dig at Tejashwi's current low public visibility following the election results. The minister's remarks highlighted the intense political rivalry between the ruling NDA and the opposition alliance in Bihar.
Public Awareness and Governance Promises
The Union Minister emphasized that the people of Bihar remain conscious of what he referred to as Lalu Prasad's 15-year-old "Jungle Raj" and expressed their clear preference against allowing opposition parties to return to power. This reference to the previous RJD regime served to underscore the current government's positioning as a stable alternative.
Regarding Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's ambitious announcement of providing 1 crore jobs and employment opportunities to youth in the next five years, Singh expressed complete confidence in the government's ability to deliver. "Whatever promises Nitish Kumar made in the past were fulfilled, and the current promise of providing 1 crore jobs too will be fulfilled...this has been the USP of Nitish Kumar," the minister affirmed.
Singh, considered a close associate of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, used the platform to reinforce the NDA government's commitment to fulfilling its electoral promises while highlighting what he portrayed as the opposition's failure to connect with voters through credible leadership and realistic promises.
