NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after the NDA’s historic win in Bihar, launched a sharp attack on the Congress, saying dissatisfaction was spreading among senior nationalist leaders who had once worked closely with Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.Taking a veiled dig at Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister said that his frustration stemmed from the conduct of what he called the party’s “namdar” leadership. He further accused the opposition of now turning its anger towards institutions instead of accepting the verdict.
Addressing a gathering of Bihari residents in Surat, PM Modi said the Congress and its allies had turned to blaming institutions instead of introspecting. “Opposition can’t explain poll rout even to their workers and blaming EVMs, EC and electoral rolls’ revision,” he said, calling it part of a “habitual” attempt to discredit constitutional bodies. He also pointed to what he described as growing frustration among younger opposition MPs, saying, “When we meet young Congress members or INDIA alliance members in the Parliament, they say, ‘Sir, what can we do? Our careers are coming to an end. We don’t even get a chance to speak in Parliament because these people keep saying, ‘Lock Parliament,’ every time.’ They’re unable to answer their own constituencies…”Turning to Bihar, PM Modi praised the state’s voters for delivering a decisive mandate and setting what he described as a global example. He said Bihar’s political clarity had strengthened the NDA while exposing weaknesses in the opposition’s message. “Bihar is famous worldwide today… Bihar’s women and youth formed a combination that strengthened the foundation of politics for decades to come,” he said.He highlighted the 10 per cent vote gap between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan as evidence of a clear preference for development.He sharply criticized opposition leaders, accusing them of attempting to divide voters. “For the past two years, these ‘jamanati’ politicians, who are out on bail, were going around in Bihar giving speeches about casteism… This election in Bihar has completely rejected that poison of casteism. This is a very bright sign for the country.” He also referred to controversies over Waqf properties, saying Bihar’s voters had dismissed what he called “communal poison”.The NDA secured a massive mandate in the Bihar assembly elections winning 202 seats while the Mahagathbandhan secured 35.
Rahul meets Kharge to discuss Cong’s Bihar poll drubbing
Meanwhile, the Congress on Saturday questioned the role of the Election Commission in the Bihar poll process as its top leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, met in Delhi to assess the party’s poor performance. Gandhi and Kharge were joined by KC Venugopal, Ajay Maken and Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru. Sources said the meeting focused on the Congress winning only six of the 61 seats it contested, its second-worst tally in the state since 2010.After the discussions, Venugopal blamed the Election Commission for the outcome, alleging that “the entire poll process is questionable and there is no transparency”. Calling the result “unbelievable for all of us”, he said alliance partners were also “not believing it”. He argued that a “90 per cent plus strike rate for a political party” had never happened in Indian history and said the Congress was collecting data from across Bihar and would present “concrete proof” within one or two weeks.Venugopal said the conduct of electioneering was “completely questionable” and alleged that “the Election Commission is totally one-sided”.
