Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Bihar last Friday, inaugurated several development projects. In his address, he also launched a scathing attack on Tejashwi Yadav and the Lalu Prasad Yadav family.
Bihar Politics: Bihar's political landscape is once again ablaze with sharp rhetoric and satire. A controversial poster in Patna has ignited the state's political atmosphere. This poster, put up by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters, targets Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav.
What's on the Poster?
The poster, displayed prominently at Patna's intersections and roads, depicts a cartoon of Tejashwi Yadav riding a buffalo, holding the RJD's lantern symbol. Lalu Yadav is shown sitting behind him, displaying a victory sign. The most controversial element is the slogan written on the poster: "My father is a fodder thief, vote for me." Through this satirical poster, the BJP is attempting to directly implicate Tejashwi by highlighting Lalu Yadav's past involvement in the fodder scam, making it a key election issue.
BJP's Target, RJD's Counterattack
This poster emerged shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a sharp critique of Tejashwi Yadav and the entire Lalu family at a rally in Siwan. In response, Tejashwi called the Prime Minister a "pickpocket," further escalating the political tension in Bihar. RJD spokesperson, Mrityunjay Tiwari, bly reacted to the poster.
He stated that the NDA has already conceded defeat. He claimed the Prime Minister, in his Siwan address, avoided real issues and failed to address what Bihar has gained. He further accused the BJP of engaging solely in abusive language and personal attacks. Tiwari asserted that RJD leaders always use respectful language, while NDA leaders' speeches are becoming increasingly abusive and unethical.
The Fodder Scam Takes Center Stage
The BJP's attempt to once again make the fodder scam a central election issue indicates that corruption will be a major theme in the upcoming assembly elections. Although Lalu Yadav has been convicted and served time in prison, the BJP is employing a strategy of repeatedly reminding voters, especially the youth, of this past in an attempt to distance them from the RJD.
Tejashwi Yadav has attempted to portray himself as a young leader and a development-oriented figure. He focuses on issues such as employment, education, and healthcare. He consistently alleges that the NDA government has cheated Bihar and that central schemes have not been effectively implemented. According to him, the BJP and JDU are only engaging in opposition politics and diverting attention from issues of public interest.
Experts believe that as the Bihar assembly elections draw closer, such poster wars, rhetoric, and personal attacks will intensify. It's clear that the BJP aims to present Tejashwi as burdened by Lalu Yadav's legacy, while Tejashwi seeks to distance himself from it by presenting himself as a representative of a new era.
