The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has strongly opposed the Bihar government’s new framework allowing panchayats to levy taxes and fees, saying it will place an additional burden on the poor and small businesses.
A party's birthday became a battle cry this time around. Lalu Yadav used RJD's 30th Foundation Day to remind his workers that winning elections was never really the point.
Despite the Bihar government’s decision to order a judicial inquiry into the controversial Bharat Bhushan Tiwari encounter case in Bhojpur district, the state’s Opposition parties—the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Jan Suraaj—have intensified their campaign over the issue.
In a brief interaction with the media, Lalu Prasad Yadav said, “Yes, our security has been withdrawn. All of this is happening on the instructions of Nitish Kumar.”
Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi requested the state government to provide special arrangements, including a separate room for RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, at the newly-allotted government residence at 39 Harding Road in Patna citing his health condition.
He said Bihar now needs good governance and prosperity, not jungle raj, and that only the NDA’s double-engine government can ensure this. “This election is about good governance vs jungle raj,” he said.
During his campaign for NDA candidates, the UP chief minister said the people of Bihar are rising above the politics of identity and standing firm with development and nationalism.
Long years back, when I was posted in Bihar under the Lalu regime, a Bihari friend had told me, “To understand Bihar, you must realise that Bihar is more a state of mind than reality.”
He addressed his first rally in Wazirganj in support of BJP candidate and sitting MLA Birendra Singh, where he launched a sharp attack on the RJD-Congress alliance.
The entire Phulwari area was flooded with red, green, and Congress flags.
