Tejashwi: PM Modi keen to open factories in Gujarat, but wants win in Bihar polls

Mahagathbandhan’s (Grand Alliance) Bihar Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday (October 26) targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that he is interested in opening factories in his home state, Gujarat, but wants victory in Bihar’s Assembly elections.

Addressing poll rallies in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, RJD leader Tejashwi also promised that cooking gas cylinders would be made available for Rs 500 if the Grand Alliance came to power in the state.

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“The Prime Minister is interested in opening factories in Gujarat but wants victory in the Bihar polls. This will not happen,” Tejashwi said in Darbhanga.

“We will make all contractual employees of the Bihar government permanent,” he said.

Sharing stage with Rahul

In both Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, he shared the stage with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

"Gas cylinders will be available for Rs 500 if Tejashwi forms the next government," he told the rally in Muzaffarpur.

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He also claimed that the slew of populist measures taken in the recent past by the NDA government in the state had been a "copy" of whatever he had promised earlier.

Citing an example, Tejashwi said, "We had promised 200 units of free electricity. Those in power got scared that this would resonate with voters. So, they made 125 units free."

He also sought to draw a contrast between his women-centric promises like 'Mai Bahin Yojana', which proposes a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500, and the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana' recently launched by the Nitish Kumar government, as part of which Rs 10,000 have been transferred into accounts of over 1 crore women.

"We are promising assistance. What the government has offered is money given on credit, which they will seek to recover with interest," claimed Yadav.

Jibe at CM Nitish

The RJD leader’s posturing may be seen as an attempt to wean away a section of women voters of the state, who have been said to be more inclined towards the NDA.

Tejashwi also took a jibe at Nitish, also the JD(U) president, saying "the government in the state is being run through remote control by the BJP".

"But, we Biharis must drive out the government which is being controlled by outsiders (baahari), who seek votes in Bihar but care for setting up factories only in Gujarat," he said.

Apparently mindful of the taints of corruption on his family and allegations of 'jungle raj' levelled by the NDA on the RJD rule, Tejashwi vowed to adopt an uncompromising stance on the two scourges.

He also reiterated his promise of ensuring that one member of each household in the state had a government job, saying people's aspirations were set to soar, like a ball "hit for a six".

Tejashwi, who has been campaigning in a T-shirt, in an obvious bid to underscore his youthful appeal, in contrast with Chief Minister Nitish, who is in his mid-70s, also made the crowds chant slogans in favour of 'yuva ki sarkaar'.

“We will make a new Bihar. We will not allow people to spread communal hatred in the state,” the RJD leader asserted.