Priyanka Gandhi Criticizes NDA’s Record on Women’s Safety in Bihar

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress, criticized the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar during a rally in Bhagalpur. She accused the government of failing to ensure women’s safety and addressing the issue of migration for employment opportunities. Her remarks come as the state prepares for the second phase of assembly elections scheduled for November 11, 2023.

At the rally, Priyanka Gandhi expressed her discontent over the NDA’s track record, claiming that women in Bihar continue to face significant challenges despite the government’s long tenure. She highlighted that Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister for the past 20 years, has not delivered on improving the lives of women.

Gandhi specifically criticized the NDA’s use of the Mukhyamantri Mahile Rozgar Yojana, which provides financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to eligible women. She suggested that this initiative was merely a tactic to garner votes ahead of the elections. “They are trying to bribe you… take the money, but don’t give them your vote,” she stated passionately, urging voters to think critically about the government’s intentions.

In her address, Gandhi also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the language he employs to address political opponents is inappropriate for someone in his position. Her comments reflect growing dissatisfaction with the current administration’s approach to governance and public discourse.

Bhagalpur is gearing up for the elections, with all seats in the district set to go to polls in this second phase. This includes key constituencies such as Bihpur, Gopalpur, Kahalgaon, and Bhagalpur itself. The first phase of polling saw a record turnout, emphasizing the significance of this election for local voters.

Various candidates are competing in these crucial seats. In Bihpur, incumbent BJP MLA Kumar Shailendra seeks a third consecutive term and faces competition from Arpana Kumari of the Vikassheel Insaan Party and Pawan Choudhary of the Jan Suraaj party. Gopalpur will see a contest between Shailesh Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) and Prem Sagar of the Mahagathbandhan.

The Bhagalpur constituency is witnessing a three-way contest among Congress MLA Ajeet Sharma, BJP’s Rohit Pandey, and Abhay Kant Jha from Jan Suraaj. The seat in Sultanganj features a battle among Lalit Narayan Mandal (JD(U)), Chandan Kumar (RJD), and Lalan Kumar (Congress), while Nathnagar sees contenders like Mithun Kumar from LJP-RV facing Sheikh Zeyaul Hassan from RJD.

The results of this crucial assembly election will be declared on November 14, 2023. Voter engagement is high, reflecting the importance of these elections in shaping the future governance of Bihar.