Amid concerns over employment avenues in Bihar, a credit war has broken out between the JD(U) and RJD as to who ensured five lakh jobs in the state. Lalu Prasad Yadav’s eldest daughter and RJD leader Misa Bharti is using every opportunity to remind voters that it was former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, who kept his promise and ensured these jobs were sanctioned as soon as he took charge.
She said people of the state voted for the BJP in the 2019 general elections, and gave them 39 seats with the hope of development and jobs. But, these promises remain unfulfilled and people are now upset with the prime minister. She may have lost to sitting MP Ram Kripal Yadav twice, but a defiant Misa Bharti has hit the streets of Patliputra once again to woo the voters. From job promises to free electricity up to 200 units and water supply, she has many arrows in her political quiver.
The RJD leader is using the maximum time in road shows and public meetings to remind voters that ‘chacha’ — as she fondly calls Ram Kripal Yadav — and the NDA government have not fulfilled their promises. CNN-News18 captured her campaign trail in Patliputra, which will be voting in the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Excerpts from an interview:
Why should Patliputra vote for the RJD and the INDIA bloc?
The RJD and INDIA bloc should get votes because of the issues being raised by us. The PM had promised jobs, permanent housing for the poor, MSP implementation, and special status for Bihar. Not a single promise was fulfilled. It was Tejashwi who gave five lakh government jobs, so the youth is especially enthused.
Out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, 39 went to the NDA last time. What has changed in the last five years that you think this kind of mandate will see any drastic change?
People gave them (NDA) 39 seats last time with the hope of jobs and development. But, nothing has changed for the youth in the last 10 years? Their eligibility for jobs has changed. So, people are now upset with the PM. Twice in Patliputra, Ram Kripal Yadav was elected (under the BJP), but not once because of his work or face. Ask any woman here about the poor drinking water supply, so what development are they talking about?
The caste census issue started here. Nitish Kumar as your ally did the caste enumeration. But, today he is on the other side. How do you assess the impact?
Lalu Prasad Yadav raised this issue first and when we were in the state government, we implemented 75 percent reservation (with reference to change in reservation cap after caste enumeration). So, this is not limited to Nitish Kumar alone.
But, the BJP is making the charge and Lalu Prasad Yadav has been personally named, that in the garb of reservation you only want Muslim reservation.
They have not done any development work, so now they want to divide the country in two. They cannot enumerate their work before the public, so now they are trying to divide Hindus and Muslims. But, people understand and they have made up their mind to give Narendra Modi a send-off. Unki vidaai nischit hai (he is sure to go).
The other allegation is that your party only cares about its own family. This charge of parivarwad has been strengthened further after Rohini, your sister, was fielded from Saran.
Saran has been my father’s karmabhoomi; if the MLAs there demand that you send a family member, then we will do that. Rohini has been fielded on public demand. The party has given her a ticket, but the vote has to be by the people. And, who is alleging parivarwad? Those who have fielded family members themselves? Whose jijaji is fighting from Jamui (Chirag Paswan’s brother-in-law Arun Bharti is the LJP-Ram Vilas candidate)? Whose son is contesting from Navada (BJP leader CP Thakur’s son Vivek Thakur) and Hajipur (Chirag Paswan)? Whose daughter is a candidate in Samastipur (reference to Ashok Chaudhary’s daughter Shyambhavi)? This is a democracy; the public will vote and decide the fate of the candidates.
The other specific charge against your party is corruption. The PM and home minister have all underlined these allegations.
Why doesn’t the PM talk about electoral bonds? My family’s case is in the judiciary; let’s see what the outcome is. But, what about leaders like Ajit Pawar? He was corrupt, they alleged that he was corrupt. Suddenly, he is garlanded and brought into the NDA fold, and his corruption disappears? This is no issue; the issue is development and employment.
What about Nitish Kumar, who has been targeting your family since changing sides?
I don’t think Nitish Kumar is a factor; that is why the PM is not taking him along in his meetings. Saath chhod diya hai (he has left his side).
Let’s talk about Ram Kripal Yadav. He was an old confidante of the party. You called him ‘chacha’ but, now, for the third time you are up against him.
He is still a family member; he is my guardian, but this time it is desh bachao chunav (election to save India). Voters of this area have consistently reposed their faith in him, but he has not managed to get even drinking water here. As the MLA, MLC, Rajya Sabha MP, our party repeatedly gave him the opportunity. But, he never came up to say someone else should get a chance. He never tried to get a ticket for any karyakarta and, so, his allegations about my family are baseless. Let him declare that he won’t let his sons come into politics if he is so anti-dynastic politics.
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