By Vishwapati
Patna: As the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections concluded in Bihar with voting on four seats, leaders from various parties made bold assertions about the electoral outcome.
Amidst the rhetoric, Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), of which his party was a key partner in Bihar, was poised to secure victories on all the four seats—Nawada, Jamui, Gaya and Aurangabad—where polling was held on Friday.
Talking to reporters here, Jha said the partnership between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar was a “dream combination”, eagerly awaited by the people of Bihar. “The people of Bihar want the two leaders to work together as their collaboration will lead to significant benefits for the state and the nation,” he said.
In response to leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav’s prediction that the Mahagathbandhan, comprising RJD, Congress and Left parties, would win all four seats in the first phase, Jha provocatively claimed that the results would be particularly shocking for him.
After the completion of the first phase of polling, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav had said that the BJP-led NDA’s “400 paar” film proved to be super flop on the first day itself and there was no competition in the first phase as Bihar would give shocking results this time.
Taking a dig at the opposition’s campaign, Jha said it lacked coherent narrative and compelling leadership. He dismissed the claims of Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) and said its prospects were dim in the face of the NDA’s formidable presence. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and its former president Rahul Gandhi would be visiting Bihar to campaign for their party candidates. “But we have been moving across the state and know what the people are thinking. They know that the formation of a double engine government in Bihar will be beneficial for the state,” he said.
Jha also criticised the opposition’s reliance on personal attacks and divisive tactics, citing an incident where LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan’s mother was insulted during an election meeting of Tejashwi Yadav. “One should not fight political battles by making personal attacks. But this has been the culture of RJD,’ he said while describing the 15-year of RJD rule in Bihar as “a dark chapter”.
Jha also expressed confidence in the electoral process, dismissing allegations of EVM tampering. “The Opposition leader are makimg false claims that the Election Commission is favouring the NDA and the administrative machinery is firmly aligned with us. We are winning because people’s support is with us,” Jha added.
Nitish Kumar’s successful rallies in Banka and Bhagalpur recently showed overwhelming support for the NDA across Bihar, he said.
- Edited by Alok Mohit, former Senior News Editor of Hindustan Times, Patna and Chandigarh
