Patna (Bihar) [India], June 10 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, alleging a failure of law and order under his government and claiming that over 65,000 murders have taken place during his tenure.
In a post on X, the former CM cited official statistics to claim that over 65,000 murders have occurred during Nitish Kumar's tenure.
https://x.com/laluprasadrjd/status/1932256455631020388
"Does Nitish know, recognise and understand that during his rule, according to official figures, 65,000 murders have taken place? 65,000 people have been murdered, 65,000!", he wrote on X.
Raising concerns over daylight crimes, Yadav questioned the state of policing in Bihar. "Nitish should tell how many murders are taking place by breaking into houses before 5 p.m.?" he said.
RJD Chief further added, "Nitish-BJP has not only destroyed the law and order but has also cremated it. Bihar has never had such a corrupt, careless and lazy police."
Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav launched a sharp attack on the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, accusing it of failing on law and order and allowing the health system to collapse. Yadav said to reporters, "Criminals are on the loose in Bihar. Many incidents are constantly coming to light, and the police seem helpless. The government is also sleeping, and it seems as if they have nothing to do with anything.., rape happens and the Deputy CM makes promises, this is the situation. This is maha-jungle raj."
The developments come as political temperatures rise in Bihar ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. Opposition parties criticise the government over rising crime and alleged governance failures.
Meanwhile, Bihar elections are expected to be held later this year in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date.
While the NDA, consisting of the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, will once again be looking to continue their stint in Bihar, the INDIA bloc, consisting of the RJD, Congress, and left parties, will be looking to unseat Nitish Kumar.
In the current Bihar Assembly, which has 243 members, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 131, the BJP has 80 MLAs, JD(U) has 45, and HAM(S) has 4, with the support of 2 Independent Candidates.
The Opposition's INDIA Bloc has a strength of 111 members with RJD leading with 77 MLAs, Congress-19, CPI(ML)-11, CPI(M)-2 and CPI-2.