Poll outcome to be reflection on Modi govt performance: JD(U)

Bihar JD(U) chief Bashistha Narain Singh claimed the grand alliance will win up to 40 seats of the 49 that went to polls in the first phase and a majority of seats in the second.

He told a press conference that a large turn-out of youth and women voters was an indication of big support for Nitish as <g data-gr-id="30">youth</g> were impressed with his development agenda while women had been empowered by his government.

Suggesting that it was Nitish who was the main draw for voters, he said RJD chief Lalu Prasad was a “big leader” but people had chosen development as their main concern and factors like caste were reduced to the background.

“NDA will get not more than 80-90 seats. BJP will probably now fight elections to ensure that it remains the main opposition party,” Singh claimed.

Taking a dig at the central government, he said so many ministers had “left” their work and been intensively campaigning in the state and accused Narendra Modi of using “very undignified” language in his speeches. Talking of reports of Modi’s rallies being cancelled, he said it showed that BJP had got a “disappointing feedback” on its performance and asserted that Bihar polls had acquired a “huge national dimension” due to the Centre’s efforts to “crush” the opposition with its might.

“We have performed well and as per our expectations in the first two phases. We will win 40 out of 49 seats in the first phase... Never before a Prime Minister has campaigned in such a big way in a state poll. If BJP loses, then its performance at the Centre will be a reason for this. Bihar results will have wide national implications,” he said.

Elections to 243 assembly seats are being held in five phases. He said Modi should announce his government’s report card of the last 17 months since he came to power as Nitish had done of his 10 years because the Prime Minister was leading the NDA campaign.