Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly criticized the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, labeling them as representatives of Bihar’s “jungle raj.” Speaking at a rally in Muzaffarpur, he characterized the alliance by the five ‘K’s: katta (country-made guns), kroorta (cruelty), katuta (resentment), kushasan (misgovernance), and corruption.
In his address, PM Modi also took aim at opposition leaders for their alleged remarks downplaying Chhath Puja as mere “drama.” He highlighted his government’s efforts to gain UNESCO recognition for the festival, contrasting it with what he described as the opposition’s disrespectful attitude towards Bihar’s cultural pride.
“It is my first visit to Bihar after the Chhath Puja, a festival now renowned globally,” Modi stated. “Chhath embodies devotion and equality. While my government is working to elevate it to UNESCO heritage status, leaders from Congress and RJD are calling it mere ‘nautanki’ (drama).” He was evidently responding to recent comments made by Rahul Gandhi, who had accused the Prime Minister of staging a “Chhath drama.” Modi condemned such remarks as an insult to Bihar that would not be forgotten for centuries.
RJD-Congress Alliance: An Unnatural Union
The Prime Minister further described the RJD-Congress alliance as “unnatural,” akin to “mixing water and oil.” He asserted that their sole objective in joining forces is to “loot Bihar again,” citing reports of internal conflicts among their leaders.
Modi contrasted the NDA’s focus on cultural preservation and development with the opposition’s alleged association with violence and corruption. He recalled that during the RJD’s previous tenure, Bihar reportedly saw 35,000 to 40,000 kidnappings, with incidents of brazen looting, and noted that their current campaign songs allegedly reference illegal firearms.
The Stakes for Bihar Elections 2025
The upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections, scheduled for October-November 2025, will determine the fate of all 243 constituencies in the state.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and including the Bharatiya Janata Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), is seeking another term in power.
Challenging the ruling coalition is the INDIA bloc, comprising the RJD led by Tejashwi Yadav, the Congress, and other Left parties.
Adding another dynamic to the electoral landscape, political newcomer Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is also set to contest all 243 seats, marking his formal entry into Bihar’s political arena.
Current Assembly Strength in Bihar
The current composition of the Bihar Legislative Assembly is as follows:
- BJP: 78 MLAs
- JD(U): 45 MLAs
- Other NDA allies & rebels: 9
This brings the Total NDA strength to 132, exceeding the majority mark of 122.
The opposition parties hold the following seats:
- RJD: 75 MLAs
- Congress: 19 MLAs
- CPI(ML)-L: 12 MLAs
- CPI & CPI(M): 2 each
- AIMIM: 1 MLA