PM Modi to Rally Support in Bihar Ahead of Assembly Elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold two election rallies in Bihar on Thursday, October 30, 2023, as the state prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections. Modi will address supporters in Muzaffarpur at 11:00 AM and in Chhapra at 12:45 PM. His engagement with the electorate comes as part of a broader campaign by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) aimed at securing victory in the state.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi expressed his enthusiasm for the rallies, stating, “My family members from Bihar are themselves in the electoral fray to ensure a resounding victory for the BJP-NDA.” He emphasized the excitement surrounding the elections, predicting that the people of Bihar would “sound the conch of great victory” once again for his party.

The political atmosphere in Bihar is charged as the NDA faces off against the opposition alliance, known as the Mahagathbandhan. Earlier on the same day, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed a joint rally in Muzaffarpur, where he launched a fierce critique of Modi. Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of resorting to desperate measures for electoral gain, suggesting that Modi is willing to “do anything for votes.”

Gandhi remarked, “He (PM Modi) just wants your vote. If you ask him to do a drama for votes, he will.” He further alleged that the NDA is engaged in “stealing your votes,” drawing on past claims of electoral misconduct in other states, including Maharashtra and Haryana.

In a show of support for the NDA’s campaign, Union Minister Amit Shah also conducted rallies today in various locations, including Begusarai, Samastipur, and Darbhanga. The Assembly elections in Bihar are set to unfold in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with results expected to be announced on November 14.

The main contesting parties include the NDA, which comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. On the other side, the Mahagathbandhan is led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and features the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and the Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahani. Additionally, Prashant Kishor‘s Jan Suraaj has asserted its claim to contest all 243 seats in the state.

As the political narrative intensifies in Bihar, the coming weeks will be crucial for both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan as they seek to consolidate their positions ahead of the elections.