Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi launch the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 campaign on February 24 in Bhagalpur?
Will he rake up the issue of alleged lawlessness or the “jungle raj” during 1990-2005, when the Rashtriya Janata Dal was in the government and Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi became Chief Ministers of the state?
Will the ruling JD(U) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar feel uncomfortable with the BJP’s one-up-manship months before the state goes to poll?
PM Modi To Release Money For PM Kisan Nidhi Yojana
PM Modi is scheduled to release the 19th installment of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, under which each eligible farmer gets three installments of Rs 2,000 each every year.
Analysts believe PM Modi has chosen Bhagalpur to release the amount, keeping in mind the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, scheduled for November this year.
He may use the opportunity to slam the opposition coalition of ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar and the RJD and Congress particularly, that may emerge as the main contenders for government formation post-elections.
Lalu Prasad Yadav Under Attack
The ball was set on rolling after Lalu Prasad’s brother-in-law Subhash Yadav accused him of being behind the alleged kidnapping and ransom racket.
He told journalists that it was the chief minister’s residence that used to coordinate with the alleged kidnappers for the release of the victims.
In an attempt to prove himself innocent, he said that he was not behind the rackets as alleged, rather it was the chief minister’s residence. He also argued that had he been guilty, he would have gone to jail like Lalu Prasad.
Subhash Yadav also said that brand-new cars were taken away from a showroom on the day of the wedding of Rohini Acharya, Lalu’s daughter.
When told that it was the wedding of his “bhanji” (niece), he replied that the father and not the “mama” (maternal uncle) of the bride needed the cars.
Will Ghost Of ‘Jungle Raj’ Haunt Bihar Again?
With this, the spectre of the so-called “jungle raj” may begin to haunt the politics of Bihar once again, as many times before.
People still remember that a relative of a minister of the Lalu Prasad government was kidnapped while going to school.
If media reports are to be believed, the schoolboy was released after his family paid a whopping amount of Rs 30 lakh to the kidnappers.
In yet another incident reported by the media, photojournalist Ashok Karan was kidnapped and he was traceless for days.
When reporters asked Lalu Prasad Yadav about his whereabouts, he said that Karan would be released in two hours. He was indeed released the same day.
Sadhu Yadav Questions Subhash Yadav
In what may be called a damage-control exercise, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s other brother-in-law, Sadhu Yadav has come out in his support.
Slamming his younger brother, Sadhu asked Subhash what he had been doing for 35 years and what was his role those days as he very was close to Lalu Prasad.
He also said that it was Subhash who abused the power those days. He also said that he had warned Lalu Prasad about Subhash’s deeds.
BJP’s One-Upmanship Before Bihar Elections?
Hitting back at the BJP, the RJD spokesperson has said that the saffron party and the ruling coalition are upset over the worsening law and order situation in the state and they have used the bogie to distract people’s attention.
Analysts also waiting for Nitish Kumar’s reaction, who has been accused of being in touch with the RJD to take one more U-Turn before the Bihar Elections.
The Bihar chief minister was the comrade-in-arms of Lalu Prasad Yadav and he left him in 1996.
After many flip-flops, Nitish Kumar once again hit the headlines about two months back when Lalu Prasad said that the RJD’s doors were always open for him and he could come and join hands with him anytime.
Though Nitish responded by saying, “leave it” (“arre chhoriye na”), analysts hinted at a possible shift in Bihar politics.
The BJP has made it clear that it is gearing up for the polls with full vigour and aggressiveness, regardless of Nitish Kumar’s approach.
All eyes will be set on PM Modi and every word he speaks will be weighed.
