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Modi’s Bihar Blitz: Nostalgia Meets Development Pitch
Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the NDA’s 2024 campaign in Bihar with a strategic rally in Patna, invoking socialist icon Karpoori Thakur while warning voters against reverting to the RJD-led “jungle raj.” Framing the election as a battle between stability and chaos, Modi positioned the BJP-JD(U) alliance as Bihar’s growth catalyst, touting infrastructure projects like the Ganga Expressway and expanded healthcare access.
Key Quote:
“Karpoori ji stood for social justice, but today’s opportunistic parties exploit his legacy for votes,” Modi declared, taking aim at Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD without naming him.
The Jungle Raj Warning: BJP’s Law-and-Order Card
The PM’s sharpest jab was his caution against Bihar’s past—an era synonymous with RJD rule (1990–2005), marked by allegations of crime syndicates and corruption. “Should Bihar return to kidnappings and extortion?” he asked, rallying the crowd to chants of “Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar!”
NDA’s Edge:
– Double-engine sarkar: Leveraging state-Centre synergy for roads, jobs, and welfare.
– OBC outreach: Karpoori Thakur’s legacy targets non-Yadav backward castes, a key voting bloc.
Opposition Strikes Back: Nitish’s Flip-Flops & Caste Equations
RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav dismissed Modi’s rally as a “distraction from unemployment,” while Congress highlighted Nitish Kumar’s frequent alliance switches. Analysts note the INDIA bloc’s reliance on a united Mahagathbandan (Grand Alliance) voter base—Muslims, Yadavs, and sections of Dalits—to counter the NDA.
Why Bihar Matters: 40 Seats & the Road to 2024
With 40 Lok Sabha seats, Bihar is pivotal for the BJP’s 370-seat mission. The NDA’s 2019 near-clean sweep (39/40 seats) faces a sterner test this time, with opposition unity and anti-incumbency as wildcards.
Final Verdict:
Modi’s speech fused emotive symbolism (Karpoori Thakur) with development promises and fear of regression—a trifecta designed to sway Bihar’s complex caste calculus. The campaign’s next phase will test whether jungle raj rhetoric trumps local grievances.
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