PM slams RJD’s jungle raj, calls Opposition lathbandhan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday fired multiple salvos at the Opposition alliance in Bihar, calling it “lathbandhan” and invoking RJD’s erstwhile rule as “jungle raj”. The PM will start his Bihar campaign on Friday with rallies in Samastipur and Begusarai.

Speaking to the BJP booth workers virtually hours after RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was named the chief ministerial face of the opposition, Modi said the people of Bihar will not forget “jungle raj” for 100 years.

After a woman booth worker cited Bihar’s journey “from the era of corruption under the RJD to the era of development under the NDA regime”, the PM said the opposition Mahagathbandhan was actually a “lathbandhan” alliance.

Modi’s was referring to the state of lawlessness under the RJD regime from 1990 to 2005, when the JDU and the BJP combine unseated Lalu Prasad, and Nitish Kumar first became the Bihar CM.

PM said every booth was the heartbeat of democracy. He further said the youth of Bihar were the creators of change rather than its beneficiaries.

Prime Minister was interacting with booth workers under the BJP’s “Mera Booth, Sabse Mazboot – Yuva Samvaad” initiative.

He also spoke about GST reforms that had led to reduced tax on bikes and scooters, making these vehicles cheaper for youth. Emphasising the power of democracy, the PM said, “When the youth leads, the nation moves forward.”

Meanwhile, BJP president JP Nadda said RJD supremo Lalu Prasad was eager for the return of "jungle raj" in Bihar.