Sipu Jha
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday cautioned voters that the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance would open an “Apaharan (kidnapping) department” if it came to power in Bihar. “If we win, we will create a new department to make Bihar flood-free. But if Lalu’s son wins, he will open a department for ‘Apaharan’ (kidnapping and abduction). We will not let ‘jungle raj’ (lawlessness) return,” Shah said at a rally in Jamui, targeting Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate.“If you make even the slightest mistake and deviate even a little from the Lotus or the Arrow, then ‘jungle raj’ will return once again. Does Jamui want ‘jungle raj?’” he asked, referring to the election symbols of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) — the two senior partners in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Jamui, which will vote in the second and final phase of the Bihar assembly polls on November 11, comprises four assembly constituencies. Shah urged voters to “give all four seats to the NDA.”He also highlighted how polling can now be held peacefully in districts that were once Naxal strongholds, including Jamui. “In this area, around 150 Naxals once hijacked the Dhanbad–Patna Express and killed three people. The area was completely under their control. It is due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts that the region is now Naxal-free. Earlier, people could vote only till 3 pm, but now they can vote till 5 pm,” Shah added. Referring to the first phase of polling, held on Thursday across 121 of Bihar’s 243 constituencies, the former BJP president and its chief strategist claimed that the Mahagathbandhan had been “wiped out.” According to the Election Commission, the first phase recorded a preliminary turnout of 64.46 per cent, a new high for the state. Counting of votes for both phases will take place on November 14.
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