Rahul Gandhi Launches Bihar Election Campaign with Sharp Criticism of Prime Minister Modi

Rahul Gandhi initiated the Congress' Bihar election campaign on Wednesday with several sharp criticisms directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he would do "anything for votes".

The Congress MP, allied with Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal for this election, reiterated accusations that the ruling BJP has been "stealing" elections, alleging collusion between the party and the Election Commission to manipulate federal and state results.

"He just wants your vote. If you tell Narendra Modi to dance. He will dance... they are engaged in stealing your votes. Because they want to end this election disease. I am telling you, they stole elections in Maharashtra, they stole elections in Haryana, and they will try their best in Bihar..." Gandhi stated.

The BJP responded immediately; they criticized Gandhi's remarks as resembling those of a "local goon" and accused him of insulting voters who supported the Prime Minister.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari posted on X, "Rahul Gandhi speaks like a 'local goon'. Rahul Gandhi has openly insulted every poor (person) of India and Bihar who has voted for PM Narendra Modi ji! Rahul Gandhi has mocked voters, and Indian democracy!"

The BJP countered by accusing Gandhi and the Congress of "openly standing with intruders".

Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at a rally in Darbhanga district, referenced Gandhi's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', a foot march through parts of the eastern state in August/September, which aimed to gather public support for opposition claims regarding Election Commission-BJP collusion.

Gandhi also criticized reports of a specially constructed pond on the banks of the polluted Yamuna River in Delhi filled with filtered water, allowing the Prime Minister to offer Chhath puja, which involves standing in water and taking a ritual dip.

"There is no Yamuna there... there is a pond there. He went to bathe in his 'swimming pool'. He has nothing to do with the Yamuna... with Chhath Puja," Gandhi remarked at a rally in Muzaffarpur.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, recently named as the opposition's chief ministerial candidate after the Congress delayed the announcement, also addressed the gathering.

Yadav's speech was less confrontational, focusing primarily on his electoral promises rather than personal attacks against the Prime Minister. He pledged to price cooking gas cylinders at Rs 500 and provide 200 free units of electricity per household.

He did, however, criticize Janata Dal United leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, suggesting his government was being controlled by the BJP via 'remote control'.

On Tuesday, the opposition alliance and the ruling BJP-JDU coalition clashed over the legacy of Bihar socialist icon and former Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, particularly regarding the 'Jan Nayak' title.

The dispute erupted after the Congress declared Gandhi the 'Jan Nayak'.

Hindustan Awam Morcha chief Jitan Manjhi, a member of the BJP-led ruling alliance, dismissed this claim, stating, "The title is given by the people... it can't be self-assumed."

Manjhi was particularly critical of the RJD's attempt to similarly label Tejashwi Yadav, while a Samajwadi Party leader subsequently 'bestowed' the title on Akhilesh Yadav.

The Bihar election will be conducted in two phases beginning November 6.

Results will be announced on November 14.