Opposition Leader Challenges BJP's Aerial Campaign in Bihar
In a fiery election campaign across Bihar, opposition chief ministerial face Tejashwi Prasad Yadav declared on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party is "scared of a 37-year-old youth" and has deployed an unprecedented 30 helicopters in the state to counter his rising popularity. The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader addressed as many as 18 election rallies throughout the day, presenting himself as an unstoppable force in Bihar politics.
"A Bihari Proving Stronger Than All"
At a rally in Belhar within Banka district, Tejashwi boldly stated that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor any NDA minister could prevent him from forming the next government. "Modi ji has engaged scores of party leaders in the poll duty, hiring 30 helicopters in Bihar poll campaigns, but he can't be controlled," the RJD leader asserted, adding that "a Bihari is proving stronger than all."
Positioning himself as the true son of the soil, Tejashwi emphasized that Bihar cannot be governed by outsiders. "Only the son of the soil will govern Bihar. Ham Bihar ka beta ruknewala hain?" he questioned rhetorically, urging the youth to support his mission to liberate the state from unemployment and migration.
Promises and Allegations Dominate Campaign
The opposition leader made a compelling offer to voters, contrasting his potential performance with the NDA's two-decade rule. "You gave 20 years to the NDA; give me just 20 months to set things right," he promised, outlining his vision for a transformed Bihar.
During an online interaction with women and panchayat representatives from 40 assembly constituencies, Tejashwi unveiled significant welfare commitments. He pledged that if voted to power, his government would credit the entire annual financial aid of Rs 30,000 to women's accounts in January next year. Additionally, he announced plans to provide free electricity to farmers for irrigation purposes.
However, the campaign trail also saw serious allegations from the RJD leader. At a rally in Araria, Tejashwi claimed that voting in RJD-dominated areas was being "deliberately slowed down" through the use of defective EVMs. He accused the local administration of intentionally delaying the voting process and charged the NDA with "vote chori" (vote theft), urging his supporters to remain vigilant.
Call for Unity Against NDA Government
Throughout his marathon campaign day, Tejashwi repeatedly called upon the people of Bihar to unite and oust the NDA government, which he alleged has cheated the youth for the past 20 years. He framed the election as a choice between trusting local leadership versus leaders parachuted from outside.
Concluding his appeals, the RJD leader promised to build a Bihar that ensures dignity, employment and opportunity for all, positioning himself as the embodiment of the state's aspirations and the answer to its long-standing challenges of unemployment and migration.
