Bihar: Mahagathbandhan Focuses on Issues to counter Non-Issues Raised by Modi-led NDA

Patna: Sensing the mood on the ground, the Opposition Mahagathbandhan star campaigner Tejashwi Yadav has been vigorously trying to focus on issues (mudde) of "Rozgar, Sarkari Naukri, Mehangai, Garibi, Swasthya, Shiksha, Samajik Nyay, Vikas" (unemployment, price rise, poverty, health, education, social justice and development) to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the star campaigner of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Development Alliance’s bid to focus on non-issues to woo voters during ongoing campaign for Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.

The young Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader, who is former Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly,I s repeatedly reminding people of issues that matter for them in place of non-issues. "Ab Desh Mein Modi Ki Nahi, Mudda Ki Baat Hogi", ( Now the country will discuss issues, not Modi), Yadav is telling people in election meetings.

At a time when Modi and other BJP star campaigners are talking about “eating fish during Navaratri” and “mutton during Sawan”, construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, parivarwad (dynasty) and totally avoiding mention of unemployment, price rise and development of Bihar, Yadav is daring the ruling NDA to talk of issues and explain to people which of the promises made by the NDA government were fulfilled in the past 10 years.

"They (BJP)have been doing politics over food because they are avoiding any talk on issues. But we are focusing on issues only, nothing else" Yadav has been saying in rally after rally.

The enthusiastic response of huge crowds in one public meeting after another in Gaya, Aurangabad, Jamui and Nawada parliamentary constituencies to Yadav is posing a tough challenge for BJP leaders and NDA allies, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, ahead of first of seven-phase voting on April 19 in the state.

Yadav is not missing any chance to remind people of his work and contribution during the 17-month rule of the of the Mahagathbandhan, when he distributed appointment letters to thousands of youth.

With the election campaign picking up for the Lok Sabha elections, the other allies of the Mahagathbandhan, which is part of the national Opposition alliance INDIA, including Left parties, Congress and Vikasheel Insan Party (VIP) star campaigners are also focusing on issues of unemployment, price rise, disparity and development in the state during campaign.

Tejashwi Yadav's main focus is issues of Bihar, which he described as chhetriye mudda (regional issues) of people. "Why is Modi silent on issues of unemployment among youths, distress of farmers, price rise, poverty that are a must for the development of Bihar and its people", he asks people.

The RJD leader has also been asking people in meetings whether Modi and BJP leaders had assured them even once of giving ‘special category’ status to Bihar or a special package for development of the impoverished and backward state.

"Why are Modi and BJP leaders are not saying anything on how to provide employment to youths of Bihar? They should inform people why unemployment, poverty and price rise increased during NDA rule of 10 years," he asked the people.

Yadav has also been targeting the slogan of ‘Modi's guarantee’ in election meetings by saying that it is like cheap Chinese items. "Modi promised Rs 15 lakh in the pockets of each, two crore jobs to youth per year, no price rise, no corruption and bringing back black money from abroad. Nothing has happened so far because all these were mere jumla (hollow statements), as revealed by a top BJP leader in public", he said.

Loudly claiming that he and his Mahagathbandhan government fulfilled promises of ‘rozgar’ aur ‘naukri’ (employment and jobs), Tadav said: "We have given nearly five lakh government jobs in 17 months, a move to help youths. Besides, we gave government employee status to more than 3.5 lakh contractual school teachers in December 2023 – responding to their years’-long demand and agitation,” said.

The Mahagathbandhan's commitment for issues was revealed in RJD's mamifesto (Parivartan Patra) released by Yadav on Saturday in Patna. Its 24 Jan Vachan include one crore jobs to youths if the Opposition INDIA bloc comes to power, Rs 1 lakh per year to “sisters” from poor families, discontinuation of Agniveer scheme, implementation of old pension scheme, LPG (cooking gas) at Rs 500, free electricity, among others.

Notably, Modi has already visited Bihar twice this month to campaign and is likely to visit again on April 17.