Bihar Election: Lalu Yadav, Rahul Gandhi are protectors of infiltrators in voter list, alleges Amit Shah

Union Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday hit back at Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his 'dance for votes' remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that this was not the first time that the opposition has targeted PM Modi.Shah emphasised that every time the opposition insults the Prime Minister, the lotus (BJP's symbol) will rise from the mud.In an interview with News18, Union Minister Shah alleged that Rahul Gandhi has "insulted" Chhath Maiyya if he feels PM Modi did a "drama" over Chhath Puja.He said, "It is up to Rahul; how much he wants to fall. While opposing and insulting Modi ji, he did not realise that he also insulted Chhath Maiyya. If he thinks Modi ji respecting Chhath is a 'drama', then it is an insult to all the devotees and people of Bihar and Purvanchal. They will have to pay a price because of it in the elections."

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said he felt "pity" for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, alleging that he was being "used as a dummy by the BJP". Yadav, the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial candidate, made the remark while insinuating that the 75-year-old JD(U) supremo was not in sound mental health. He was responding to queries from journalists over Kumar’s slip of tongue a day ago, when the chief minister said Bihar had 47 districts, nine more than the actual number. Yadav, who is also a former Deputy CM, said "Yes, I saw it yesterday. I feel pity for Nitish ji. He has been reduced to a dummy (putla) by the BJP. He is being used like a dummy by them".

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday alleged that Bihar suffered for years due to the apathy of the ‘lantern’ regime, the poll symbol of the RJD, which ruled the state for 15 years. Addressing rallies at Muzaffarpur and Patna in poll-bound Bihar, Gupta also claimed that the ‘lantern’ regime only cared about the welfare of their family members. “I want to ask, why has Bihar suffered for so many years? It’s because those who were part of the previous government, during the regime of the ‘lantern’ (RJD), cared only about their own families, not about the people of Bihar. Why did the youth of Bihar have to leave their homes and go elsewhere to earn a living?” she said at the Muzaffarpur rally.

In the Ghosi Assembly constituency of Jehanabad, existing MLA and CPI(M-L) candidate Rambali Singh Yadav faced strong opposition from the local voters. During an election campaign visit to Sahobigha Puranka Tola village in the Ghosi block, villagers confronted him over perceived neglect during his previous term. The locals expressed frustration, saying the MLA had not visited the area even once in the last five years but had now come only to seek votes. The situation escalated to the point where villagers prevented Rambali Singh and his supporters from entering the village, forcing him to return empty-handed. This reflects growing discontent against the sitting MLA amid a politically charged atmosphere. Rambali Singh Yadav had won the last election by defeating the NDA ally HPM party’s Rahul Sharma by a margin of over 17,000 votes, but allegations of neglect and voter dissatisfaction have surfaced repeatedly during his ongoing term.​

Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Anil Kumar, who is seeking re-election from the Tekari assembly constituency, and his supporters were attacked allegedly by his opponents in Bihar's Gayaji district on Wednesday. According to police, Sahni and his followers are out of danger. The sitting MLA told reporters that the incident took place when he along with his supporters had gone for electioneering in Dighaura village. "Suddenly, a large number of supporters of opposition parties came and started throwing stones on us and also damaged our vehicles. I along with my supporters sustained injuries. We were taken to the nearest government hospital by our supporters," he said. Gayaji SSP Anand Kumar said that the police have launched a manhunt to nab the accused.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are likely to address around 15 rallies in all in poll-bound Bihar, party sources said on Wednesday, as the electoral contest hots up in the crucial Hindi heartland state. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who recently underwent a pacemaker implantation procedure, is set to address three rallies in Bihar along with a few press conferences as well, they said. Rahul Gandhi began his campaign with two rallies in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga on Wednesday. Priyanka Gandhi, who is presently in Wayanad, will visit Bihar later this week and address poll rallies. (PTI)

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, "Rahul Gandhi's use of words like 'ganda pani' and 'drama' for Chhath Puja is an attack on faith of every person."

On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's remarks, Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal said, "If you listen to Rahul Gandhi's speech, you can see his frustration... He has gone into depression, and when someone goes into depression, their language crosses limits... He (Rahul Gandhi) has insulted Chhath Maiya today as well... The people of Bihar will never tolerate this."

On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi 'dance' dig at PM Modi, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, "Rahul Gandhi speaks as if he were a spokesperson for Pakistan. The language of someone who speaks as a spokesperson for India's adversaries will be like this. He insults the Indian army, insults the people... Rahul Gandhi can ask for votes with arrogance. We have no hesitation in bowing before the public. PM Narendra Modi is the pradhan sevak of the people."

Ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has taken strict disciplinary action by expelling 10 senior party leaders for a period of six years. These leaders were found to be involved in activities against the interests of RJD, such as campaigning against the party's official candidates or contesting elections as independents. The party has also suspended their primary membership, effectively barring them from participating in any organizational activities or decision-making processes during this period. This move is part of the RJD’s effort to maintain unity and discipline within its ranks as the political atmosphere intensifies ahead of state elections.​

Anil Kumar, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) party candidate for the Tikari Assembly constituency in Gaya, was attacked during a public outreach campaign in Dighora village. The incident occurred while he was canvassing for votes, resulting in a head injury to Anil Kumar and injuries to several of his supporters. Kumar’s supporters have accused members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of orchestrating the assault. The attack has heightened tensions in the area as the election campaign intensifies, and authorities are investigating the matter.

(With inputs from Nitish Chandra) 

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Wednesday slammed both National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Mahagathbandhan over migration of people from Bihar, calling Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav "the root of troubles" in the State.Speaking to reporters in Madhepura, Prashant Kishor appealed to the people of Bihar not to return to other States after casting a vote in the Assembly elections.He said, "We appeal to them not to return and to remain in Bihar until the elections are over. If they vote for Lalu or Nitish again, they will have to go back, travelling like animals on trains. The people of Bihar have to decide if they want a factory made here or in other states. Lalu and Nitish are the root of all troubles in Bihar."He added that if Jan Suraaj is voted to power, people will not have to migrate from Bihar.

Congress intensified its criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that he stopped a potential conflict between India and Pakistan through trade measures. Rahul Gandhi accused Modi of being “scared” of Trump and urged him to publicly deny the American president’s statements during his visit to Bihar. Addressing a rally in Darbhanga, Gandhi said that Trump has repeatedly boasted about halting “Operation Sindoor” by pressuring Modi, yet the prime minister has remained silent. He argued that a leader who lacks courage cannot lead Bihar toward progress. Gandhi added that Trump continues to “insult Modi globally,” claiming the Indian leader “bowed before him,” and yet Modi has not refuted those remarks. Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh also posted video clips on X showing Trump making similar claims in Japan and South Korea. Ramesh took a jibe at Modi, saying that the “self-styled but now exposed 56-inch chest remains silent,” criticizing the prime minister for not responding to Trump’s repeated assertions.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday unleashed a no-holds-barred attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of doing "anything for votes" and alleging that the BJP was running the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar "through remote control". Gandhi made the statements, kicking off his assembly poll campaign in the state by holding back-to-back rallies in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga. Addressing joint rallies alongside the INDIA bloc's CM face Tejashwi Yadav, "You must have seen the drama on TV that Modi was going to take a dip in the Yamuna for Chhath Puja. It was shelved when it was exposed that a puddle had been formed with clean, piped water since the river is so dirty." "Narendra Modi is ready to enact all types of drama. You try telling him at a poll rally that, Mr Prime Minister, we will vote for you if you dance. He will readily perform Bharat Natyam," he claimed.

Rahul Gandhi said, "Tejashwi is the Chief Minister face of the Mahagathbandhan. The Mahagathbandhan government will be a government for every caste and every religion. There will be respect for every caste and every religion. Whether it's the EBC, backward classes, Dalits, Mahadalits, minorities, or poor general castes, this will be a government for everyone, and its mission will be to put Bihar back on the path of development...".

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav want to ensure that names of infiltrators remain in voters list, alleges Home Minister Amit Shah in Bihar's Begusarai rally.

Amit Shah said land not availble in Bihar for industries, but farmlands being given to select business houses, alleges Rahul Gandhi. Rahul and Lalu Prasad Yadav want to ensure that names of infiltrators remain in voters list, alleges Amit Shah in Begusarai rally.

Addressing a public meeting in Samastipur, Amit Shah said that since the Ramayan times onwards, Samastipur has remained the gateway to Mithilanchal. Among the fifteen major Kabir monasteries in the country, two are here in our Samastipur. Here, the five parties of the NDA are fighting the election together, like the five Pandavas.

"The NDA in Bihar has the support of Modi ji, the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish ji, the youthful energy of Chirag Paswan, the lifelong dedication of Jitan Ram Manjhi, and the experience of Upendra Kushwaha. I have travelled across Bihar. Crowds like this can be seen everywhere in the statem,: he said.

Students invest a lot of energy into education, but it gets wasted due to paper leaks that benefit a few," says Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi at Muzaffarpur poll rally.

Addressing a poll rally in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched an attack an Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying Biharis and no future in the state and the Mahagathbandhan wants such a government that can provide healthcare, education and employment to the people.

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched barbs at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the NDA as he addresses his first Bihar poll rally in Muzaffarpur while sharing the stage with Tejashwi Yadav, Mahagathbandhan's CM face.

Mahagathbandhan CM candidate & RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "Tejashwi wants to end migration from Bihar and make Bihar crime-free and corruption-free. I want to make Bihar number one. But even after 20 years of Nitish Kumar's rule and 11 years of Narendra Modi's rule, Bihar remains the poorest state in the country. Bihar has the highest unemployment, inflation, and migration...As soon as our government is formed, within 20 days, a law will be passed to provide a government job to every family that doesn't have a government job..."

CM Yogi slammed RJD for its involvement in the fodder scam. He said there was an era of criminals before 2005. 

During an election rally in Shahpur Assembly constituency CM Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp attack on the opposition. He began his address by paying tributes to Veer Kunwar Singh and Babu Jagjivan Ram, calling the region the land that gave India great figures like Chanakya, Chandragupta Maurya, and Lord Buddha.

Yogi Adityanath asserted that the NDA government will return to power in Bihar, noting that as soon as he arrived, “Lord Indra blessed the rally with a light shower — a divine flower offering.”

He described the RJD and Congress rule as a ‘dark and shameful period’, saying that when Nitish Kumar’s government was formed in 2005, it marked the beginning of the end for mafia elements in the state.

Recalling Jayaprakash Narayan’s fight to save democracy, Yogi accused the opposition of trying to strangle it today. 

At a Bihar poll rally Yogi Adityanath accused critics of the Ram Mandir of having no standing now. He described tough action against mafia figures in Uttar Pradesh.

During a poll rally in Raghunathpur, CM Yogi appealed to voters to elect representatives who promote development and stand with the poor, not criminals or mafia. He cautioned against those who incite riots during festivals or disrespect religious faith. Referring to the constituency number 108 as auspicious in Sanatan Dharma, Yogi urged people not to let any “inauspicious” elements threaten the region’s identity and harmony.

CM Yogi said Congress and RJD embraced many infamous criminals and Shahabuddin's son was the example of it. 

UP CM Yogi Adityanath slammed Lalu Yadav-led RJD for stopping Ram Temple rath while addressing poll rally in Siwan. 

Congress leader Udit Raj said RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's rallies are attracting ten to fifteen times more people than Modi and Nitish Kumar's rallies.

Janshakti Janata Dal Chief Tej Pratap Yadav said he will make Bihar unemployment-free after forming the government in Bihar. 

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of neglecting Bihar ahead of the Assembly polls and reducing the Congress to the "margins" in the Mahagathbandhan.

VIP chief Mukesh Sahani said Nitish Kumar had no vision to govern Bihar and the latter was following them while making announcements.  

CM Nitish Kumar will hold a roadshow in four assembly constituencies of Nalanda district. In addition, he will also address a rally in Harnaut. Nalanda is CM Nitish Kumar’s home district. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will today hold a public meeting in Baheri.  

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) National Spokesperson Waris Pathan fired back at political strategist and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor over his recent remarks, accusing him of trying to enhance his political image by invoking AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's name.

"Tejashwi Yadav burnt the effigy of Mahagathbandhan by launching the 'Tejashwi Pran' manifesto. There were no pics of Rahul Gandhi, Mukesh Sahani, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi on the manifesto...How can they put the Waqf Amendment Act on hold?" Ajay Alok said.

Poll temperature has shot up in Bihar as Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, are set to address several public rallies on Wednesday in favour of their NDA and INDIA bloc nominees, respectively, in various parts of the poll-bound state.

Two Union Ministers will today hold public meetings in Bihar in view of the upcoming polls.

4 BJP CMs, including UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will today hold multiple rallies in favour of NDA candidates for Bihar polls. 

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi will today hold poll rally in Bihar’s Seemanchal.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath is set to hold three public meetings in Bihar in view of the upcoming polls. He will hold rallies in Siwan, Shahpur and Buxar.

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday kicked off the election campaign of his party for the Bihar assembly elections, questioning why the eastern state cannot have a Muslim CM despite the minority community comprising 17 per cent of the state's population. The Hyderabad MP lambasted the ruling NDA as well as the opposition INDIA bloc for allegedly "giving a raw deal" to the Muslim community.

The opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday released its manifesto for the Bihar assembly polls, promising, among other things, a government job to one member of every household, restoration of old pension scheme and 200 units of free power. The 32-page-long 'Bihar ka Tejashwi Pran' (Tejashwi's resolve) released at a crowded press conference in the state capital, was, however, dismissed as "a bundle of lies" by the ruling NDA.

The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a notice to Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor over his double enrollment as a voter in two different states -- Bihar and West Bengal.

VIP chief and Mahagathbandhan’s deputy CM face Mukesh Sahani said there was contention over seat sharing but no discord over the deputy CM post. He said the party wanted to contest more seats but they were satisfied.  

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will kick off his Bihar poll campaign by holding rallies in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga. He will be joined by Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan allies.