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Journalism of Courage
It has been an election that witnessed the highest levels of mudslinging and rhetoric between political leaders in a fight for prestige. For the BJP, a resounding victory in Bihar would strengthen its belief that the policies of the Narendra Modi government are working. It will also be a shot in the arm for the party that has been battling perceptions after the severe drubbing it received in Delhi. On the other hand, for Nitish Kumar and the alliance he leads, a win in his home ground will be sweet revenge for its defeat at the hands of BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
Both Nitish and PM Modi have addressed a string of mega rallies across the state in the aim of whipping up enough votes in their favour. But in their speeches, they have attacked each other aggressively in a bid to puncture each other’s bids for power. Ahead of the final phase of polling in the Seemanchal belt, we take a look at some of the key accusations and allegations that defined their campaigns.
PM Narendra Modi
‘They are sheltering terrorists’ – Yes, that was the allegation the Prime Minister made during his rally in Darbhanga. He pointed his fingers at Nitish and Lalu Prasad, telling a raucous crowd that ‘they are sheltering terrorists.’ His comments came in reference to the ‘Darbhanga module’ and asked voters if they wanted a government in Patna that would protect terrorists.
‘Lalu, Nitish sought religion quotas’ – For a party that faced a lot of backlash over RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments on reservation, the BJP had to indulge in a damage-control exercise. The PM took on the challenge and claimed that Lalu and Nitish had sought for a review of the reservation system in 2005 in order to go for religion-based quotas.
“Lalu and Nitish did not even see eye to eye. On July 23 and 24 in 2005, Lalu and Nitish babu came on a common stage and sought a review, relook and change in the reservation policy on religious basis. Ambedkar, other Constitution builders, Rajendra babu (Rajendra Prasad), Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had opposed reservation on the basis of religion,” Modi said.
‘Jungle Raj and Jantar Mantar’ – The Prime Minister did not fail to play up on Nitish’s viral video in which the latter is seen meeting a ‘tantrik.’ At a rally in Madhubani, he said the combination of jungle raj (reference to Lalu Prasad’s term in office) and jantar mantar (black magic) would spell doom for the people of Bihar. He alleged that Nitish was resorting to black magic because he knew he would lose the election.
‘They don’t have time for others’ – One key issue the PM has often raised in his rallies is that of corruption referring to Lalu Prasad’s involvement in the fodder scam. In a rally last week, he said if Nitish and Lalu are elected, they will not have time for others. They will only work for the benefit of their relatives, said the PM.
‘They want to give Dalit, OBC quota to another community’ – In remarks that invited strong response from the opposition, PM Modi said Nitish and Lalu are conspiring to give Dalit, OBC quotas to another community. The PM however did not mention the name of the community. PM Modi said he would risk his life to protect reservation rights of the weaker communities.
‘He may lose India’ – The Bihar CM has responded to every barb of the PM in equal measure. When PM Modi talked about quota politics, Nitish replied saying the PM’s ‘divisive language’ and ‘desperation’ could make him lose India.
‘Modi is an autocrat’ – Nitish has efficiently used social media to power his campaign for the state elections. His response to the statements of PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have invariably come on Twitter, considered a stronghold of the PM himself. Dubbing PM Modi an ‘autocrat’, the Bihar CM said the BJP leaders have realised the strength of democratic forces and have been rattled by the outcome of the election.
‘Modi was always unmatched in theatrics’ – The PM has always been unmatched in theatrics, rhetoric and using unsubstantiated facts, Nitish said ahead of the PM’s rallies in the poll-bound state. He also questioned the PM’s silence on issues like black money, MSP for farmers and jobs for youth.
‘PM has no control over language’ – The Bihar CM questioned the language of the Prime Minister in the ongoing Bihar elections. “The PM has no control over language and is using words like ‘shaitan’ and ‘ahankari’ for rivals and questioned their DNA,” Kumar said addressing an election rally at Lalganj in Vaishali district.
‘Return people their purane din’ – Nitish, at an election rally in his home district of Nalanda, mocked the BJP and PM Narendra Modi over its 2014 poll slogan. ‘Acche din aane wale hai’ (Good days are coming) was the election slogan of the BJP that reaped huge dividends in the election to become the single largest party in the Lok Sabha. Nitish, at the rally, sarcastically asked the PM to ‘keep his acche din’ and ‘return people their purane din.’ Over the past few weeks, prices of dal and rice have skyrocketed thus becoming a key poll issue.
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