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COVER STORY OCTOBER 31, 2025 | The Indian Eye 4

BATTLE FOR BIHAR

CAMPAIGN

HEATS UP

As Bihar heads to the polls in November, PM Modi’s calls for “good governance” meet

resistance from RJD and the insurgent campaign of Jan Suraaj — turning the 2025
Assembly elections into a referendum on Bihar’s past, present, and political future

OUR BUREAU

Patna / New Delhi
rime Minister Narendra Modi’s
arrival in Samastipur on Friday
Psignaled more than the start of
the NDA’s campaign — it was the re-
assertion of a political narrative built
on “susaasan,” or good governance. In
rally after rally, Modi’s speeches have
sought to revive a familiar contrast:
between the lawlessness of “jungle
raj” under the Rashtriya Janata Dal
(RJD) and the developmental stability
promised by the BJP-JD(U) alliance.
Standing before large crowds in
Samastipur and Begusarai, Modi in-
voked the memory of socialist leader
Karpoori Thakur, blending social jus-
tice with a message of prosperity. “We
transformed ‘jungle raj’ into good gov-
ernance. Now the time has come to
turn good governance into prosperi- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with NDA Leaders Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Chief Chirag Paswan,
ty,” he told supporters. The symbolism Rashtriya Lok Morcha Chief Upendra Kushwaha and others join hands, during Bihar assembly elections rally, in Samastipur on Friday (ANI Photo)
was powerful: aligning the NDA’s vi-
sion with Bihar’s long-cherished ideals claimed, was synonymous with chaos, Where the prime minister speaks of har,” he said, accusing the BJP of
of social upliftment, while claiming the extortion, and fear. “Law and order order and progress, Yadav paints a neglecting Bihar’s industrial and em-
moral legacy of backward-class leaders cannot exist where RJD is in pow- picture of exhaustion and betrayal. ployment needs.
once championed by the opposition. er,” he declared, adding that Bihar’s “For 20 years, the people of Bihar The RJD’s central argument is
Modi’s campaign also sought to “mothers and sisters, Dalits, and back- have been exploited,” he said in Sa- that the so-called “double-engine”
highlight tangible achievements — ward classes” suffered most during that harsa, as enthusiastic crowds chanted government — BJP at the Centre and
improved roads, electrification, new era. His call for the electorate to keep his name. “We will do in 20 months JD(U) in the state — has failed to
rail lines, internet expansion, and the “jungle raj walon ko door” (keep the what this government couldn’t do in translate governance into opportuni-
six-lane highway linking Samastipur jungle-raj forces away) was as much 20 years.” ty. Tejashwi and his sister, Misa Bhar-
to Purnia. “The NDA government about reviving fear as it was about Tejashwi, now the face of the Ma- ti, have questioned why Bihar still lags
doesn’t see roads or electricity as consolidating loyalty among women, hagathbandhan, is banking on a narra- behind in industrialization, education,
mere facilities,” he said. “They are youth, and marginalized voters — tive of generational change. His pitch and employment despite two decades
instruments of empowerment.” By the NDA’s expanding support base. mixes youthful defiance with class of NDA rule. Bharti’s sharp rebuke —
pointing out that Bihar has received resentment — a deliberate attempt “Has a single factory been set up in
three times more funds under his gov- TEJASHWI’S PROMISE OF to draw a line between the “Baharis” 20 years?” — encapsulates the RJD’s
ernment than under previous Con- CHANGE (outsiders) from Gujarat, a pointed messaging: that Bihar’s development
gress regimes, Modi aimed to project jab at Modi and Amit Shah, and “Bi- story under Nitish Kumar and Modi is
continuity and control. cross Bihar’s plains, Tejashwi haris,” the people who must reclaim more promise than performance.
But at the heart of his appeal Yadav’s rallies present a mir- their state’s destiny. “PM Modi wants Tejashwi’s campaign also has an
lay a political warning. The RJD, he Aror image of Modi’s campaign. factories in Gujarat but votes in Bi- Continued on next page... >>

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