"No one in NDA is saying anything except abusing Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav": Tejashwi Yadav

Patna (Bihar) [India], October 26 (ANI): Mahagathbandhan's Chief Ministerial candidate and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday assured voters that his alliance would deliver on every promise made. He took a sharp dig at the NDA, saying that "no one in NDA is saying anything except abusing Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav".
He further hit it out at the NDA over its unfulfilled commitments, saying, "What happened to the two crore jobs, Startup India, Make in India? We believe in doing the work. We are telling everything to the people about what we will do in the next 5 years."
Tejashwi also took aim at the NDA's campaign strategy, saying that instead of addressing key issues, the alliance was focused on personal attacks. "No one in NDA is saying anything except abusing Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav. This time, people of Bihar are impatient for the change," he said.
Earlier today, Tejashwi Yadav said that people of the state have become aware of the "tactics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)" and were "impatient" for change in government.
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tejashwi argued that Bihar was being taken for a ride, given that major industries were being set up in Gujarat. He also mentioned the support that Mahagathbandhan has received from people ahead of the already announced assembly polls.
"The campaign has begun, and Bihar is impatient for change. Wherever we are going, people in large numbers from all castes and religions are coming to support us. People are fed up with the current government and want to change the Bihar government," said Yadav, who has been named as the Chief Ministerial candidate by the opposition grand alliance.
"Under this 20-year-old visionless government, corruption and crime have reached their peak. No action is being taken. Amit Shah has already clarified that no industries can be set up due to a lack of land. People have understood the tactics of the BJP that Modi has set up factories in Gujarat. Bihar ko thenga aur angutha dikha rahe hai (Bihar is being taken for a ride)," he added.
Tejashwi further announced that the honorarium and allowances of panchayat and village court representatives will be doubled after the Mahagathbandhan forms a government in Bihar.
"The honorarium and allowances of the three-tier panchayat representatives and village court representatives (gram kachari pratinidhi) will be doubled when our government comes to power. A pension scheme will be started for former panchayat and village court representatives. Three-tier panchayat and village court representatives will be provided with insurance coverage up to 50 lakh rupees," the RJD leader said.
He also announced that a lump sum of Rs 5 lakh for five years will be provided interest-free to people from marginalised communities, engaged in caste-based professions, to assist them financially.
"A lump sum of Rs 5 lakh, which will be interest-free, will be provided to the hardworking people of communities, including Nai, Kumhar, Badai and Lohar, for five years to financially assist them. From this, they would be able to buy modern tools to sustain their (self) employment," Tejashwi said.
Highlighting the anti-incumbency in Bihar, Tejashwi exuded confidence that people will bring about a change in the government. "If you saw a seed of only one brand, it doesn't yield crops and turns the land barren. People of Bihar will bring about a change (in the government). We are asking the people of Bihar to give us merely 20 months. I have complete faith in the people of Bihar, in my constituents, that there will be a change. Mahagathbandhan will form the government, and together we will work to build a new Bihar," he added.
Mahagathbandhan earlier declared Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face for the Bihar assembly polls, while also naming Mukesh Sahani of Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) as Deputy CM candidate.
The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections are set to witness a direct contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
The Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), includes Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Mukesh Sahani's VIP.
Additionally, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has announced that it will contest all 243 Assembly seats in the state.
The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, and the counting of votes is scheduled for November 14. (ANI)