"Made big hue and cry over SIR": RLM National President Upendra Kushwaha slams Mahagathbandhan for questioning Bihar SIR

Patna (Bihar) [India], October 21 (ANI): Ahead of Bihar elections, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) President Upendra Kushwaha slammed Mahagathbandhan parties for questioning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on Monday.
In an interview with ANI, Kushwaha accused the Mahagathbandhan of allegedly creating issues among the public and claimed that the public is not even discussing the SIR exercise.
"They made a big hue and cry over SIR. But what did they find?...Is there even a discussion among the public today about what SIR is? These people were trying to create an issue among the public. The public already rejected them..." said Kushwaha.
Kushwaha stated that during Lalu Prasad Yadav's 15-year rule, no Dalit was allowed to become a ward member of their party.
The RLM Chief also highlighted that when the NDA came to power, they modified the existing provisions.
According to him, it was under the NDA that the representation of backward communities and Dalits increased. "When Lalu Prasad Yadav was in power in Bihar for fifteen years, no one allowed a Dalit to become a ward member. Not only women from Dalit families and women from extremely backward families, but even men were not allowed to become members. When Nitish Kumar took over, the NDA government immediately changed the existing provisions. The result of it is that the representation of people from backward communities, Dalits, has increased, and they are viewed with respect...," Kushwaha said.
The RLM Chief also alleged that the Mahagathbandhan, fearing loss of power, is resorting to allurements and emphasised that the public is now aware of their true nature.
"Who stopped Lalu Prasad Yadav from doing this?...Now that power has slipped from their hands, they are resorting to allurements again. The public recognises their true nature..." Kushwaha said.
While discussing the CM face of the NDA in Bihar, the national president of the RLM stated that Nitish Kumar is the CM face for the NDA in the upcoming Bihar elections.
"Nitish Kumar ji is our CM face. The elections in Bihar are being contested under the leadership of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. We will win the elections and the government will take oath under his leadership....."Our party will do our best to ensure the victory of the NDA...," said the RLM chief.
Earlier, Upendra Kushwaha emphasised the unity within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), stating that the alliance is "far ahead" of the Mahagathbandhan, both in coordination and campaign momentum.
In an interview with ANI, Kushwaha criticised the Mahagathbandhan, saying its constituents have fielded candidates against each other, while the NDA finalised seat-sharing earlier and is now running an organised campaign.
"We (NDA) are all united, and we are way ahead of them (Mahagathbandhan)... The parties in Mahagathbandhan are contesting elections against each other. We have already completed the seat sharing... We are moving forward at a good pace," Kushwaha said.
The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections will primarily see a contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan.
Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj has also announced candidates for all 243 seats. Polling for the Bihar Assembly elections will be held on November 6 and 11, with counting of votes scheduled on November 14.
In this election, the Mahagathbandhan alliance consists of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Left parties, including CPI, CPI (ML), CPI (M), and Vikassheel Insaan Party, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the chairperson.
The NDA alliance includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM). Under the NDA's seat-sharing agreement, the RLM, led by Kushwaha, will contest six seats. (ANI)