Nitish won’t be made CM if NDA retains power: Tejashwi Yadav’s bombshell claim at poll rally, says BJP has ‘hijacked’…

Asserting that Bihar is still a poor state despite the 20 years of rule by the JD(U)-led NDA in the state, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday claimed that CM Nitish Kumar will not be made the chief minister if the ruling alliance is again voted to power.

The RJD leader also alleged that Kumar has been hijacked by the BJP, and two people from Gujarat – ostensibly referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah – are operating in Bihar.

Yadav, the chief ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc, accused the Centre of shielding corrupt leaders and criminals in the state.

Addressing a rally in Simri Bakhtiyarpur of Saharsa district, Yadav claimed, “Amit Shah has made it clear that elected legislators will decide the CM of Bihar after elections. Nitish Kumar will not be made the CM of Bihar, if the NDA is voted to power again,” the RJD leader claimed.

Yadav promised that he would present a clean government if the opposition alliance came to power in the state.

The former deputy CM also said that he would ensure a government that would listen to the people’s grievances and provide affordable medicines and jobs to them.

“As a Bihari, I feel anguished that my state is poor, and unemployment, corruption and criminal activities are on the rise. Despite 20 years of the NDA rule in Bihar and 11 years at the Centre, the state’s per capita income is the lowest and farmers remain poor,” Yadav claimed.

The RJD leader appealed to the voters of the Saharsa region to vote for a “Bihari” and not “Bahri” (outsiders) in the ensuing assembly elections.

He also charged the central government with using probe agencies against opposition leaders, including him and his family members.

He said, “If Lalu did not fear Modi, his son would also not be afraid”.

Yadav said that as a Bihari, he feels “anguished” to see the “poor condition of Bihar”, and added, “I feel pain when I see widespread unemployment, rampant corruption, and a prevailing sense of impunity present among criminals.”

The RJD leader said people want a Bihar that is “free of corruption and crime, and attracts investment for growth”.

The former deputy CM highlighted that despite the 20 years of the NDA government in Bihar and 11 years at the Centre, “the state’s per capita income is the lowest in the country, and farmers and labourers are in pitiable condition.”

He appealed to voters, “Give Tejashwi a chance. What the NDA government has failed to do in 20 years, I will do in 20 months.”

He announced that if voted to power, he will “bring down the price of LPG cylinders to Rs 500 from around Rs 1,000, increase the old-age pension to Rs 1,500 from Rs 1100, regularise the services of contractual workers and community mobilisers, and provide a government job in each household of Bihar”.

Yadav also highlighted the achievements of his brief term as deputy CM of Bihar, saying, “I gave jobs in the 17 months. After that, the NDA government failed to continue the momentum.”

The RJD leader questioned, “PM Modi had promised to give 2 crore jobs each year. Where is the account of 22 crore jobs in 11 years?”

Drawing a line of contrast, he said, “Tejashwi does what he says. He doesn’t make hollow promises.”

With Deputy CM face Mukesh Sahani by his side, Yadav said that “one more deputy CM face representing another section of society will be announced by the INDIA bloc in the next few days”.

While talking to reporters in Patna earlier in the day, Yadav said, “The BJP sets up factories in Gujarat and seeks victory in Bihar. This is not going to happen.”

Responding to PM Narendra Modi’s charges of ‘jungle raj’ that prevailed during the RJD rule in Bihar, he said, “The prime minister had himself recounted 55 scams of the Nitish Kumar government. What action has he taken? ‘Jungle raj’ is where no appropriate action is taken against scams, and where criminals roam free.”

He alleged that the BJP-ruled states witness the most criminal activities in India(BHARAT).

Yadav said, “I don’t tell half-truths and lies. You all know that what I say, I do. If the INDIA bloc wins the elections, Tejashwi will become the CM, and the people will become ‘chinta mukt’ (tension-free). I will ensure there will be no crime and present a corruption-free government in Bihar.

Addressing the rally in Simri Bhaktiyarpur, he also said, “Our government will ensure education, medicines, and jobs for the people of Bihar. We will make sure that our government listens to the grievances of the people. I will reduce LPG cylinder cost to Rs 500, increase old-age pension to Rs 1,500 if the INDIA bloc forms the government in Bihar.”

Tejashwi Yadav reiterated his promise of providing a government job to each household and regularising the services of contractual workers and community mobilisers.

(Only the headline has been reworked by India(BHARAT).com staff. Copy comes from an agency feed)