On a day when the Opposition INDIA bloc officially declared Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial face in Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P. Nadda slammed the Mr. Yadav and his father, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, for their alleged record of “corruption and jungle raj”.
In Bihar to campaign for the ruling National Democratic Alliance’s candidates in the Goh and Patepur Assembly constituencies, Mr. Nadda said the upcoming election presented Bihar voters with a choice between development and destruction.
“Today, Lalu and Tejashwi are talking about development. Let them tell the public that during their government, Bihar was in an era of corruption, jungle raj, and darkness. Even today, they have not apologised to the people of Bihar for this,” Mr. Nadda said.
The Bihar Assembly election pits the NDA’s vikas (development) against the INDIA’s bloc vinaash (destruction), he said, adding that the RJD stands for Rangdari Jungleraj Dadagiri (extortion, lawlessness, and intimidation).
‘Rule of goons’
The BJP president pointed out that the RJD is fielding Osama Shahab, the son of don turned politician Mohammad Shahabuddin, in the Raghunathpur seat.
“By giving a ticket to Shahabuddin’s son, Lalu-Tejashwi have proven that even today these people are eager to bring back the rule of goons. These people do not want the development of Bihar; they want to push Bihar into the gutter of corruption. During their rule, looting, murder, and kidnapping had become a business,“ he alleged.
Questions RJD’s jobs promise
In a veiled attack on the RJD leader, who faces charges in a land-for-jobs scam case, Mr. Nadda asked whether those who take away even land for jobs would be able to provide employment. Mr. Yadav had recently announced that every household in Bihar would be given a government job if the INDIA bloc was voted to power.
“These people will never give jobs or security. They can only offer corruption, looting, kidnapping, murder, and jungle rule,“ Mr. Nadda said, telling youths to ask their parents and elders about the dark age of Lalu’s government before casting their votes.
He claimed that under the NDA government, Bihar is moving towards development, along with peace, comfort, calmness, and harmony.
‘Congress insults Biharis’
The BJP leader also accused the Congress of insulting Biharis and being a “parasitic’ party that finishes off its junior alliance partners.
“When Congress leaders come seeking votes, ask them this — did their Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy not say that the DNA of Telangana’s people is superior to that of Bihar’s? The Congress is allied with [Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.] Stalin’s party, whose MP Dayanidhi Maran remarked that people from Bihar come to Tamil Nadu to clean roads and bathrooms. Tell me, is it right to vote for those who insult and question the dignity of Bihar and its people?” Mr. Nadda asked.
‘Son of a thief’
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said it was a day of shame for democracy and Bihar when the mahagathbandhan chose the “son of a thief” as its Chief Ministerial candidate.
“RJD president Lalu Prasad in a way, tortured all the allies and got his son declared as the Chief Ministerial candidate. The people of Bihar gave the RJD a chance to rule for 15 years, but they were rewarded with loot, murder, and corruption. Today, the son of a corrupt person, a registered criminal, is dreaming of becoming the Chief Minister of Bihar,” Mr. Choudhary told journalists in Patna.
Mr. Choudhary also highlighted that Mr. Tejashwi Yadav’s promises about government jobs would require an expenditure of ₹12 lakh crore at a time when Bihar’s total budget is only ₹3.17 lakh crore.
Corruption saga
Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Mr. Tejashwi Yadav was praising the work done during the mahagathbandhan government led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a time when the Janata Dal (United) was allied with the RJD. “He should tell who was your Chief Minister at that time. It was because of your corruption that Nitish Kumar separated from you,” Mr. Prasad said.
“Which story of corruption does he believe? His own or that of his father, mother, and his colleagues? Today, it is important to tell the country and the State that Tejashwi Yadav’s father and RJD national president Lalu Prasad has been convicted in four cases of the fodder scam. He has been sentenced to 32 years and five months,” Mr. Prasad added.
Published – October 23, 2025 11:13 pm IST
