Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, currently MP from Patna Sahib, has expressed confidence that the NDA will secure a decisive victory in the Bihar elections, with results expected on November 14. In a detailed interview, Prasad emphasized that the question of Chief Minister is not under debate, reaffirming the BJP's commitment to its alliance with Nitish Kumar and the JD(U). He dismissed concerns about the party contesting an equal number of seats with its ally for the first time, stating that partnership unity matters more than numbers. Prasad criticized the opposition, particularly Rahul Gandhi's allegations of electoral irregularities and Tejashwi Yadav's promise of government jobs for every family, calling them impractical. He defended the NDA's governance record, contrasting it with what he termed the "jungle raj" of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi's administration. The BJP leader also addressed questions about party leadership depth in Bihar, allegations against state leaders, and the emergence of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj as a new political force. Throughout the conversation, Prasad repeatedly stressed the BJP's philosophy of maintaining relationships with allies.
NDA Partnership and Equal Seat Sharing
Prasad clarified that the BJP and JD(U) contesting an equal number of seats carries no special significance. He pointed out that even when the BJP had larger seat shares in 2005 and 2020, the party made Nitish Kumar Chief Minister, demonstrating commitment to allies. The BJP leader stated the party governs in nearly 18 states while maintaining strong alliances. He emphasized the partnership with Nitish Kumar dates back to 1996 and has remained solid despite occasional disagreements. Using a Hindi phrase, Prasad stressed that the BJP values maintaining relationships. He noted that other parties like Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena left alliances on their own, but the NDA remains a strong foundation. The partnership between BJP and JD(U) represents mutual trust where unity matters more than seat arithmetic.
Opposition Campaign and Promises Criticized
Prasad dismissed Rahul Gandhi's allegations about voter roll irregularities as a complete failure, calling Gandhi a "political tourist" who occasionally visits Bihar. He noted that even Tejashwi Yadav has not raised this issue, and with 99.9 percent voter registration, the claims lack credibility. The BJP leader called Tejashwi's promise of a government job for every family economically impossible, calculating it would cost the exchequer Rs 12 lakh crore for Bihar's 2.97 crore families. He stated people understand such promises are unrealistic from someone unlikely to come to power. Prasad contrasted employment records, claiming the Lalu-Rabri government provided only 94,000 jobs over 15 years, while the Nitish Kumar government has given 18 lakh jobs, with a promise of one crore more coming.
Governance Record and Jungle Raj Memories
The BJP leader argued that memories of the "jungle raj" under Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi still resonate with Bihar voters. He described that period as marked by kidnappings for ransom, police inaction, and rampant corruption. Prasad claimed people remember these incidents and have heard stories from parents and elder siblings. He stated that Nitish Kumar's governance brought good roads, electricity to all villages, women's empowerment through schemes like Jeevika, and overall development. The senior leader noted his own contribution as a lawyer fighting the fodder scam case. He claimed voters in his Patna Sahib constituency, which represents both NDA and RJD support bases, clearly prefer NDA governance. Prasad dismissed allegations against BJP leaders and concerns about Jan Suraaj's impact, predicting it will not hurt the NDA.
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