Patna, Nov 4 (NationPress) In the lead-up to the Bihar Assembly elections, BJP MP Anurag Thakur stated that Bihar has experienced considerable progress under the existing government, with the populace eager for the NDA to reclaim power.

During an interview with IANS, Thakur expressed, “Bihar has witnessed remarkable growth, and the citizens demand the NDA government once more. There is a widespread acknowledgment that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and other NDA figures have dedicated themselves to enhancing the future for the youth and residents of Bihar.”

Thakur highlighted the contrast between the RJD’s prior governance and the current NDA regime, mentioning, “Under the RJD administration, the development rate was a mere 4.4 percent. Today, it has surged to 9.9 percent. The per capita income has seen a significant jump as well. Previously, our roads were in disrepair, but now Bihar boasts four-lane highways and better connectivity to nearly every village. We now have three new airports, along with numerous new engineering and medical colleges. These are tangible indicators of the advancements made during the NDA administration.”

In response to recent declarations by opposition figures ahead of the elections, Thakur criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for what he termed deceptive promises. Yadav had recently claimed that if elected, his government would grant Rs 30,000 as financial aid to women through the Mai Bahin Maan Yojana on Makar Sankranti, aimed at providing economic support to women.

Thakur remarked, “It’s evident that Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav are making grand promises while simultaneously opposing the Rs 10,000 assistance intended for women’s empowerment. Do they not value the dignity and self-reliance of Bihar’s women? The Congress and RJD have openly challenged this initiative. I urge the women and mothers of Bihar not to support Lalu Prasad Yadav’s party, which symbolizes the age of ‘Jungle Raj.’ Otherwise, this could just be the beginning of denying you your rightful Rs 10,000 benefit.”

Thakur also endorsed the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to initiate the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) -- a nationwide effort to clean up the voter list across nine states and three Union Territories starting from Tuesday.

“We welcome the SIR initiative. It protects the rights of legitimate voters while identifying and eliminating illegal entries. Sadly, the Congress and the RJD shield illegal migrants and exploit them as a vote bank. SIR is crucial to ensure that only authentic voters exercise their democratic rights,” Thakur added.

The SIR 2.0 operation comes just days before the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections. In a similar revision conducted earlier this year, over 68 lakh names were removed from Bihar’s electoral rolls following verification, as part of the ECI’s initiative to eliminate duplicate, shifted, or deceased voters.

This phase of SIR will encompass nearly 51 crore voters across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. Notably, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry are set to conduct Assembly elections in 2026.