Bihar Elections: PM Modi lashes out at Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav, promises 24 hour electricity and gas pipelines in all homes

Highlights: 

Saturday was the first of many big encounter days in run up to the crucial Bihar election scheduled for later this year. 

The interesting  bit was bete noire Modi and Nitish sharing the dias together and straight after that Modi addressing a political rally. 

Nitish landed the first blow tweeting about how PM has forgotten promise of giving special status and funds for Bihar.

Both leaders were courteous in their official programme though some indirect jibes were taken at each other.

Modi though indirectly attacked Lalu even in the official programme. 

PM though was at his attacking best launching scathing attack on both Nitish and Lalu in the political rally.

Modi said RJD stands for 'Rozana Jungle Raj ka Darr'. 

PM accused Nitish Kumar of insulting a Mahadalit.

Finally PM said that a generous package will be announced for Bihar. He also pledged to provide 24-hour power and gas pipeline in all houses if BJP wins the election. 

LIVE UPDATES:

15:58 IST Saturday, 25 July 2015

PM Modi promises 24 hour electricity and gas pipeline in all homes in Bihar. Modi says that currently the Parliament is on session, hence he can't announce the package. PM promised that once the session gets over he wil come and announce the complete package. 

15:44 IST Saturday, 25 July 2015

PM Modi says that Nitish has isolated almost every leader who has worked with him. He refers to veteran socialist leader George Fernandes in this context. He repeatedly harps on the point of lack of electricity in villages of Bihar. He says that the state government has failed to live up to their promise but assures that central government will ensure electricity for citizens of Bihar. 

He tries to assuage the notion that Bihar has been hard done by the 14th Finance Commission. Modi claims that Bihar has been provided much more money than before. 

He tries to evoke the memory of the Lalu Prasad Yadav rule in Bihar by saying RJD stands for 'Rozana Jungle Raj ka Darr'. 

Unemployment has been a big problem in Bihar and Modi tries to assure the voters by saying his government is trying to give special importance to skill development. 

15:33 IST Saturday, 25 July 2015

PM Modi now attacks both Lalu and Nitish Kumar. He refers to the poison remark said by Nitish and says that both leaders should sort out their problems between themselves. But he says that people of Bihar shouldn't be forced to drink poison. 

He says that days of Lalu- Nitish are numbered and in 100 days citizens will get rid of them

PM Modi refers to snub received by Nitish Kumar and said he was deeply hurt by the incident. In this context he says that when a mahadalit like Jitan Ram Manjhi was insulted,  Modi inferred that there must be something wrong with Nitish Kumar. 

15:23 IST Saturday, 25 July 2015

Right from the beginning, Modi is going full guns blazing against Nitish Kumar. He refers to Nitish Kumar's tweet about PM coming to Bihar after 14 months. PM says that Manmohan Singh only came to Bihar once in 10 years! 

He sarcastically says that earlier Nitish Kumar used to say that Modi doesn't need to come to Bihar and now he is missing the Prime Minister! 

15:17 IST Saturday, 25 July 2015

The action has now shifted to Muzaffarpur. PM Modi is delivering his first political speech in Bihar which will sound the bugle of assembly elections in the state. BJP has an ardous task ahead with Lalu and Nitish burying the hatchet and coming together to defeat the saffron party. 

11:35 IST Saturday, 25 July 2015

Nitish Kumar addressed the crowd first. He thanked Narendra Modi for coming to Bihar for the first time as PM. Nitish also asked PM to ensure that delayed projects are cleared up quickly. 

Speaking shortly after that PM Modi said that Bihar holds a very important place in his heart . He agreed with Nitish Kumar that schemes have been hold up in the past but broadly pushed the blame on the UPA regime. He pointed out the importance of several schemes which were unveiled today. He said that no longer are schemes merely made in centre but these days they are tailored to suit the need of the people. However he firmly rejected Nitish Kumar's allegation that Bihar has been hard done by 14th Finance Commission. He said that every state has been benefited from the scheme.

He also said that Bihar will get a generous package worth more than 50,000 crores although he refused to divulge the exact amount.  

11:26 IST Saturday, 25 July 2015

PM Modi is  inaugurating slew of projects on Saturday and Nitish Kumar is sharing the stage with him.  

PM Narendra Modi launches Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) in Patna. pic.twitter.com/M5wy76ui2j

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2015

PM flags off Daniyawa Biharsharif Railway line pic.twitter.com/FB7gIrNAhl

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2015

PM Narendra Modi now flags offs Daniyawa-Biharsharif Railway line; train starts running in Daniyawa. pic.twitter.com/eeLSN5cJQu

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2015

He also inaugurates IIT Patna, a longstanding demand of the people.  

PM Narendra Modi now inaugurates IIT in Patna. pic.twitter.com/wrbGjCAkRn

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2015

PM Modi now launches Jagdishpur-Haldia gas pipeline. pic.twitter.com/seVvmWv74h

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 25, 2015

 

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his first trip to Bihar after assuming office, state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday expressed his gratitude for the slew of schemes launched by the former.

“I welcome Mr. Modi who has come to Bihar for the first time as the Prime Minister. I welcome him from my side, from the government of Bihar and the people of Bihar. On the day of his arrival, lots of schemes have been launched and for this I thank him deeply,” Nitish said.

Seeking to kick start the BJP’s poll campaign in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a slew of schemes including the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) here on Saturday.

The Prime Minister, who shared the stage with Nitish Kumar, flagged off the Daniyawa-Biharsharif Railway line and the Patna-Mumbai railway line.

He also dedicated the permanent campus of Indian Institute of Technology, Patna to the nation and an incubation centre for medical electronics. 

10:50 IST Saturday, 25 July 2015

 

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has landed the first punch. He has attacked PM Modi regarding the promise about giving special status to Bihar. 

Nitish Kumar tweeted saying 

We’re grateful after 14 months Modiji finds time to visit Bihar. As we get ready to hear more promises what about his old ones?

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 25, 2015

You promised special status for Bihar. 14 months and people are still waiting

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 25, 2015

With 14th Finance Commission report and withdrawal of BRGF, Bihar to lose 50,000 cr. in 5 years. Is this your cooperative federalism ?

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 25, 2015

Sharing the slogan that the party has issued on Mr. Modi's arrival in Bihar pic.twitter.com/rpMpqCdE4t

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 25, 2015

Nitish Kumar has also taken on the PM in the issue of black money saying that only opening accounts of people will not help them. He also wondered why PM is yet to issue a statement on the Vyapam scam. Both Nitish Kumar and Modi though will be sharing stage shortly but from Bihar CM's statements it's apparent that the gloves are well and truly off. 

....................................

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick start the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign for the Bihar polls on Saturday.

The Prime Minister will participate in several programmes in Patna and reportedly address a 'Parivartan' rally at Muzaffarpur. He will also inaugurate the ambitious 'Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramjyoti Yojana'. Meanwhile, the ruling Janata Dal United JD (U) has put up posters across the city which proclaim, "Jhanse main na ayenge, Nitish ko jitayenge (We won't be fooled, will elect Nitish)".

This is Prime Minister Modi's first visit to the state after he assumed office last year.

With agency inputs