Bihar elections set to test Indian leader Narendra Modi

Nokha (Sasaram), October 13 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday stated that a desperate Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has acquired the throne of energy in Delhi, needs to expand its rule in all states of the nation.

Shri Naqvi urged the Election Commission that it should interfere into efforts of obstructing meetings, programmes of the Prime Minister and other senior leaders of the party; an unconstitutional demand of ban on these programmes and their telecast; and the Bihar Government’s efforts to pressurize the administration.

The “Budhijivi Sammelan” (intellectuals conference) was organised by BJP to apprise them of its agenda and viewpoints. There are reports of infighting and clashes between BJP supporters during rallies and road shows.

Modi has campaigned for the Bihar elections, promising to bring development and jobs to one of India’s poorest states.

The voters across these constituencies identify the NDA only with Modi.

“If it (package) has to be implemented, people have to strengthen Narendra Modi’s hand”, he said. “Even if a few Muslim youths were to vote for Modi, the recent developments like (the lynching of a man over rumours of cow slaughter in) Dadri and the debate on beef, in which the media has criticised us unfairly, will sway them”, said a party leader.

Political analysts say development may not be a clinching issue in a state where politics has revolved around caste for decades. The singular aspect of the PM’s election campaign style that emerged from his campaigning in the last year’s parliamentary elections was that he used to address an election rally on the day of poll.

“We don’t agree with the brand of politics that Mr Modi and his party practice”, Muhammad Asgar, a resident of Bihar’s Dumrawah village, told Reuters.

Others who were present at the “intellectuals” meet’ were Ravi Shankar Prasad, Bhupendra Yadav, M J Akbar, Suresh Prabhu, and Ananth Kumar. “Will he resign as PM after the defeat?” The Jammu and Kashmir elections, in 2014, witnessed a record voter turn-out, and the BJP, with a 16% gain in seats over the previous election, also mustered the highest vote-share.

Bhagwat exacerbated the damage by repeating his comment.

The rate of crime in Bihar is very less, the chief minister said while referring to the data of Ministry of Home Affairs. In the re-election in early 2015, AAP got a clear majority, with 67 of 70 seats.