Hajipur (Bihar) [India], November 4 : Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Tuesday took a swipe at RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, calling him the "hero of Jungle Raj," and said that the people of Bihar have rejected his son Tejashwi Yadav, his family, and his party, adding that those who believe in Jungle Raj can never become Chief Minister as the state wants development.
Speaking to ANI, Nityanand Rai said, "The pioneer of scams and corruption, the hero of Jungle Raj, Lalu Yadav, has become completely infatuated with his son. He can't see beyond his family, while the public has rejected his son, his family, and his party. Those who believe in Jungle Raj can never become Chief Minister, meaning Tejashwi cannot become Chief Minister. The people of Bihar want development..."
Meanwhile, earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah exuded confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will secure a decisive victory in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, asserting that the ruling alliance will win "more than 160 seats" and form the next government under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
"We will win more than 160 seats and form a government in Bihar," Shah said in an interview with Times Now on Monday, adding, "Nitish Kumar is the CM here and Narendra Modi is the PM there. The CM's seat is not vacant, and neither is the PM's."
Shah also hit back strongly at Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for their personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Bihar campaign.
Reacting to Gandhi's jibe that the Prime Minister could "dance Bharat Natyam for votes" and Kharge's remark comparing Modi's campaign to a "wedding celebration," Shah said such comments "reflected the Congress's frustration".
"When Manmohan Singh became Prime Minister, he could not reach out to the public, and the Congress made it a fashion to say that a PM should not promote. Why should the Prime Minister not promote? Elections are the celebration of democracy, and connecting with people is the duty of every leader," Shah said.
He further added, "Every time, the Congress has used abusive language against Modi ji, be it Mani Shankar Aiyar or others, and every time, the people of this country have responded by ensuring victory for the BJP. This time too, it will backfire."
The Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14.