Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has expressed confidence in the NDA's victory in the upcoming Bihar elections. In a recent interview, the Patna Sahib MP dismissed concerns about anti-incumbency and defended the alliance with Nitish Kumar and the JD(U). Prasad emphasized that the BJP values long-term relationships with allies, stating the party's commitment to maintaining partnerships. He contrasted the current NDA governance with what he called the 'jungle raj' under Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, highlighting improvements in infrastructure, electricity access, women's empowerment, and law and order. The BJP leader rejected criticism about not projecting a chief ministerial face, saying Nitish Kumar remains the NDA's choice. He also addressed questions about Rahul Gandhi's allegations of electoral roll manipulation, Tejashwi Yadav's promise of government jobs for every family, and the emergence of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party. Prasad dismissed allegations against BJP leaders as baseless and expressed confidence that the new political outfit would not impact NDA's electoral prospects. He stressed that the partnership between BJP and JD(U) has remained strong since 1996, despite occasional differences.
NDA Governance Compared to Previous Regime
Prasad highlighted the stark difference between current NDA governance and the earlier Lalu-Rabri era, which he described as marked by kidnappings, ransom demands, police inaction, and widespread corruption. He credited Nitish Kumar's leadership with bringing good governance and development to Bihar for the first time. Key achievements include improved road infrastructure, electricity in all villages, women's empowerment programs, and the Jeevika scheme for rural women. Prasad emphasized that Nitish Kumar's reputation as an honest leader has earned him significant goodwill among voters. The BJP leader argued that people still remember the difficulties of the previous regime, with stories passed down through families. He noted that even in his Patna Sahib constituency, which sits at the crossroads of different community support bases, voters from Nitish Kumar's support base refuse to work with RJD. This historical memory, according to Prasad, continues to influence voter preferences.
BJP-JD(U) Alliance and Leadership Questions
Addressing the equal seat-sharing arrangement between BJP and JD(U) for the first time, Prasad dismissed its significance, emphasizing that unity matters more than numbers. He pointed out that BJP made Nitish Kumar chief minister even when the party held more seats in 2005 and 2020. The senior leader used the phrase 'hum rishtey nibhate hain' (we maintain our relationships) repeatedly to describe BJP's approach to alliances. When questioned about BJP not projecting a chief ministerial candidate and lacking strong second-rung state leadership, Prasad called it a hypothetical question. He asserted the party has sufficient talent and denied allegations of irregularities against leaders including Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary. Prasad defended the alliance structure, noting that BJP maintains chief ministers in nearly 18 states while ensuring partnerships with allies continue. He emphasized that the BJP-JD(U) relationship has endured since 1996, barring minor disagreements.
Opposition Promises and New Political Challenges
Prasad strongly criticized Tejashwi Yadav's promise of providing a government job to each family, calling it unworkable. He calculated that fulfilling this promise for 2.97 crore families would cost the state exchequer approximately Rs 12 lakh crore, questioning where such funds would come from. The BJP leader contrasted the 94,000 jobs provided during the 15-year Lalu-Rabri period with 18 lakh jobs given under Nitish Kumar's government, promising one crore more. Regarding Rahul Gandhi's 'vote chori' (vote theft) campaign, Prasad called it a fiasco, noting that Gandhi acts as a political tourist who occasionally visits Bihar. He dismissed concerns about Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party, saying everyone has the right to participate in democracy, but according to BJP's analysis, it would not hurt NDA's prospects. Prasad rejected allegations raised by Kishor against BJP leaders as motivated and destined to die naturally.
Source: Link