Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday took a swipe at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), claiming that a change in government could bring back the era of “Jungle Raj” in Bihar. He urged his "brothers and sisters" to vote in "record numbers" during the first phase of Bihar Assembly polls which is currently underway.
Taking to social media platform "X", Shah urged voters to cast their votes for a "developed, self-reliant Bihar." "Each and every one of your votes will pave the way to prevent the return of jungle raj in Bihar, sustain good governance, and build a developed, self-reliant Bihar. Teach a lesson in this election to those who toy with he country's security by p providing protection to infiltrators and Naxalites. Your vote will play a crucial role in restoring Bihar's pride, along with providing modern education to every resident of the state, welfare for the poor, and employment opportunities for the youth," wrote Shah.
Previously in an interview to India Today, Amit Shah had said, “When the law functions on the basis of a person’s identity, that is when Jungle Raj takes birth." Amit Shah alleged that during RJD’s tenure, crimes were influenced by political connections.
Citing a past incident, Shah said that “35 to 40 people were killed, and the accused, who was a relative of the then Chief Minister, was given protection by the police instead of being arrested.” He added that such incidents symbolised the law-and-order collapse at the time.
The Union Home Minister had also pulled up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for sharing the stage with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. There are not only allegations onLalu Prasad Yadav, but he is a convicted in cases, and yet Rahul Gandhi shakes hands with him at Gandhi Maidan,” he said.
Responding to Shah’s remarks, RJD leader Misa Bharati, after casting her vote, dismissed the BJP’s allegations and countered that the ruling NDA had failed to protect the poor. “Today, during the first phase of voting, they are saying lock the poor people inside their homes and don’t let them vote, this is Jungle Raj. When a government of the poor was in power, they called it Jungle Raj. But what happened in Mokama today is the real Jungle Raj,” she said.
She further claimed that the people of Bihar have made up their minds to back RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. “Voters are tired of demanding their rights from the double-engine government. They want Tejashwi Yadav as Chief Minister,” she added.
Polling for the first phase covers 121 constituencies across 18 districts, marking the start of the two-phase election that will decide the fate of 243 Assembly seats. More than 7.4 crore voters, including around 14 lakh first-time voters, are eligible to vote.
According to the Election Commission of India, a 13.13% voter turnout was recorded in Bihar till 9 a.m. Polling began at 7 a.m. and will continue until 6 p.m., though voting will close an hour earlier in several constituencies, including, Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mahishi, Tarapur, Munger, Jamalpur, and parts of Suryagarha, due to security concerns. The second phase of polling will be held on 11 November, with counting scheduled for 14 November.
