Patna (Bihar) [India], October 5 : Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Sunday hit out at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), stating that the party leader Tejashwi Yadav had no place in Bihar's politics.
His remarks come ahead of the Bihar Assembly election
Addressing a press conference here today, the Union Minister alleged that during the Rabri-Lalu regime from 1990 to 2005, there was a Jungle Raj in the state, marked by murders and rapes.
"There was a business of rapes during those years...We are all aware that during those days, FIRs were not registered... FIRs were only registered when people took to a street to protest for an issue or the party members filed a complaint...Criminals murdered policemen helping people...Children were also afraid of going to schools, such were the conditions...the most shocking part is that these incidents had also occurred at the residences of RJD leaders... Tejashwi Yadav has no place in Bihar's politics....the people will vote for the right government this time..." Rai said.
He further stated that the people still had shivers running down their spines thinking about the crimes which took place between 1990 and 2005 in the state.
"Between 1990 and 2005, the Rabri-Lalu regime was in the form of Jungle Raj, and the people of Bihar still shiver today thinking about those days. During that regime, Jungle Raj was known in the form of murder, kidnapping, massacres, and rape. During those 15 years, there were more than 32000 kidnapping incidents... At that time, FIRs were not filed in Bihar... Between 1990 and 2005, there were 59 major massacres in Bihar..." Rai said
Meanwhile, the Election Commission is reviewing the preparedness in the state ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections and has been having meetings with political parties.
On Sunday, the second day of its two-day visit to Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) reviewed the preparedness of enforcement agencies. The Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, held a meeting in Patna today with the heads and nodal officers of various enforcement agencies to assess coordination and readiness for ensuring free, fair, and inducement-free elections in the State
A day earlier, the CEC Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi held a detailed and comprehensive review in Patna. The Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Gunjyal and senior officials of the Commission were also present.
According to a statement released by Deputy Director P Pawan, of the ECI, the Commission held a detailed review with Commissioners, IGs, DIGs, DEOs, SSPs, SPs on every aspect of election planning, EVM management, logistics, polling station rationalisation and infrastructure, training of election staff, seizures, law and order, voter awareness and outreach activities.
The Election Commission is expected to announce the dates for the Bihar Assembly polls anytime soon. The review follows the publication of the final electoral roll for the Bihar Assembly elections on September 30, marking the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).According to the ECI, the total number of electors in the final list stands at 7.42 crore, compared to 7.89 crore as of June 24 this year.
The electoral battle in Bihar is largely anticipated to be a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan, spearheaded by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Political activity has intensified across the State, with parties trading charges and ramping up campaigns ahead of the high-stakes election.