The political battleground of Bihar witnessed a significant escalation on Wednesday as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on the opposition Mahagathbandhan, setting the stage for a high-octane campaign season. The focus of his assault was the Raghunathpur constituency, where the alliance has fielded Osama Shahabuddin, the son of convicted don and former MP Mohammad Shahabuddin.
Campaigning for the NDA in Siwan, CM Yogi made a direct appeal to the electorate, urging them to choose development and integrity over what he termed "criminal and mafia" elements. Without naming Osama Shahabuddin directly, his references were unmistakable as he rebuked the Mahagathbandhan for its candidate choice.
“You have to elect a representative who is with the poor, who walks on the path of development, and not with criminals or the mafia,” Yogi Adityanath declared at a rally in Raghunathpur. He cautioned the public against those who, he alleged, incite riots during festivals and disrespect religious faith.
Invoking a cultural and religious symbol, the UP CM pointed to the constituency number—108—which he described as an auspicious number in Sanatan Dharma. “This is the seat number 108, which is a very auspicious number in Sanatan Dharma. I urge you not to let any inauspicious element threaten the identity and harmony of this region,” he stated, framing the electoral choice as one between the sacred and the profane.
This sharp ideological attack from the BJP’s star campaigner underscores the party’s strategy to polarize the narrative around law and order, nationalism, and Hindu identity.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is poised to enter the fray today, kickstarting his Bihar Assembly election campaign with public meetings in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga. He will be sharing the stage with the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial face, Tejashwi Yadav, in a show of unity for the opposition alliance.
The RJD-Congress-led coalition, which also includes Left parties and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), recently released its manifesto, titled "Bihar ka Tejashwi Prann" (Bihar's Brilliant Pledge). The document makes ambitious promises, chief among them being a government job for every household and the removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservation—a direct appeal to the state's youth and aspirational classes.
The electoral contest in Bihar is a classic bipolar fight. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comprises the BJP, Janata Dal United (JDU), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM). They are pitted against the Mahagathbandhan, which is banking on Tejashwi Yadav's popularity and a promise of massive job creation to unseat the incumbent government.
With the election scheduled to be conducted in two phases on November 6 and 11, and the counting of votes on November 14, the high-voltage campaigns from both sides are set to intensify in the coming days. The contrasting narratives—the NDA's emphasis on security and governance versus the Mahagathbandhan's promise of employment and social justice—will be put to the ultimate test at the ballot box.
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