Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha’s residence hosted a Navratri celebration featuring a Maha-Aarti and a luncheon. The event saw the presence of key figures including Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and other prominent leaders from both the NDA and JDU. Discussions revolved around development and the upcoming elections.
The gathering featured performances from various artists rooted in Indian Sanatan culture, including a depiction of Maa Kali’s triumph over Mahisasura. Deputy CM Sinha expressed hope that the event would inspire unity and commitment to the path of truth among all families. He emphasized that the presence of the Governor and CM would encourage the people of Bihar to adopt the values of Sanatan culture. With the Bihar Assembly elections approaching, he anticipated the NDA’s success in the upcoming elections.
**Allegations and Rebuttals**
Following accusations made by Prashant Kishor of the Jan Suraj party against Minister Ashok Chaudhary and others, Shambhavi Choudhary, MP from Samastipur, responded. She stated that such allegations are common during elections and that her parents had already addressed the accusations. She dismissed the allegations as baseless and false, citing the press conference as a personal attack that mentioned her family. She clarified that the trust in question has done nothing wrong, and would present its case.
**BJP’s Response to Prashant Kishor**
BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna criticized Prashant Kishor, labeling him a ‘Bahelia’ and a political ‘Natwarlal.’ He accused Kishor of being the biggest fraud in Bihar politics, targeting those opposing the RJD’s alleged ‘jungle raj’ and implied that Kishor aims to assist in forming a Mahagathbandhan government. He questioned why Kishor hasn’t addressed allegations about his own party’s financial dealings.
**BJP Accuses RJD and Congress**
BJP leader Prem Kumar accused the RJD and Congress of neglecting the backward and most backward communities when they were in power. He cited an example where certain communities were excluded from an RJD event. He further accused Tejashwi Yadav of attempting to gain votes from the extremely backward classes while disrespecting Karpoori Thakur.
**RJD’s Concerns**
The RJD expressed concerns about the allegations against Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, demanding that he publicly clarify his position. They cited the claims of fraudulent documents in a prior murder case and questioned the silence of the Chief Minister and the BJP leadership on this matter. They also questioned Kishor’s conditional approach to exposing corruption allegations.
**JDU’s Initiatives**
The JDU highlighted the Chief Minister’s Women Employment Scheme, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize women’s empowerment. The party discussed plans to promote the scheme and the Nitish Kumar government’s accomplishments to all female voters, recognizing women’s significant role in recent elections.
**CPI-ML’s Vision**
CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya highlighted the party’s focus on realizing the dreams of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar. He emphasized the importance of education, struggle, and organization, criticizing those who seek to undermine the constitution. Dr. Sandeep Saurabh, the CPI-ML MLA, noted the need for public protests when the government fails to address concerns.
**BJP’s Stance on Women**
Health and Law Minister Mangal Pandey asserted that women in Bihar fully support the NDA. He dismissed the empty promises of RJD-Congress, citing the NDA’s efforts in women’s empowerment over the past two decades. He pointed to the Chief Minister’s Women Employment Scheme and various other initiatives, including increased social security pensions and reservations for women.