Change will happen, oppression of Bihar set to end, says Narendra Modi

Patna, Oct 26: Bihar is set for 'parivartan' (change) and the 25 years of oppression will end on November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Monday.

Addressing the first of the two election rallies scheduled for Monday in the state, Modi targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his ally former chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad in Buxar district, about 133 km from here.

He said people would punish those who ruled Bihar for 25 years by oppression.

"Change will happen in Bihar. Zulm (oppression) of 25 years will end on November 8," Modi said while describing the rally in Buxar as "parivartan ka mela".

He urged people to use the elections as an opportunity to get rid of misrule of Nitish-Lalu. "Both Nitish and Lalu have been doing everything to defame me and abuse me on daily basis. There is a competition to paint me in bad colour."

Modi said they (Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad) were not concerned with development, "their only agenda was to ensure my fall".

People do not want return of 'jungle raj' and bad governance: Modi

He said that with only a few days left for the ongoing Bihar polls' phase-3, Lalu and Nitish could throw as much mud as they wished, "the more muck you throw, the lotus (BJP's election symbol) will bloom even better".

"People do not want return of 'jungle raj' and bad governance."

Modi also attacked the Congress for not being visible during the ongoing polls in Bihar.

"Congress is not in fight anywhere, it will be defeated from all 40 assembly seats, it is contesting as partner of the grand alliance along with JD-U and RJD," he said.

Modi sought to know from Congress president Sonia Gandhi if her party was not responsible for the backwardness of Bihar after ruling the state for 35 years.

Modi said Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance would make Bihar a developed state. "We stand for development. And, the third round of staggered Bihar elections for 50 of the 243 assembly constituencies is due on Wednesday."

IANS