Prime Minister Narendra Modi electrified a massive crowd in Arrah, Bihar, on November 2, 2025, as he launched a spirited campaign for the upcoming state assembly elections. With the polls set for November 6 and 11, and counting scheduled for November 14, Bihar has become the epicenter of a political storm, with Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition alliance led by Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) trading barbs over the state’s future.
Addressing an enthusiastic sea of supporters, Modi wasted no time in laying out his vision for Bihar. He declared, “The NDA’s manifesto is not just a political document but a guarantee for Bihar’s all-round development and social justice.” According to Mathrubhumi, the Prime Minister emphasized that the overwhelming turnout reflected the public mood in favor of the NDA, adding, “Wherever I can see, there are people full of excitement and enthusiasm. You have turned up in such large numbers to bless the NDA’s candidate. When I see this energy, my resolve for a ‘Viksit Bihar’ strengthens even more. Viksit Bihar hi Viksit Bharat ka aadhar hai.”
Modi’s rallying cry was anchored in promises of economic progress and opportunity. He pledged the creation of one crore (10 million) jobs and a new era of industrialization for the state. “Viksit Bihar is the foundation of Viksit Bharat. When I talk about a developed Bihar, I mean the industrial development of Bihar — where the youth get jobs in Bihar itself. Your dreams are our resolve,” he told the crowd. “It is our resolve that the youth of Bihar will work in Bihar and make a name for it. This isn’t just an announcement — we have presented a concrete plan to make it happen.”
The Prime Minister outlined a vision in which Bihar would emerge as a major hub for textiles, tourism, and manufacturing in eastern India over the next five years. He asserted that such transformation would keep young people from having to leave the state in search of work, a longstanding concern for many families in Bihar. “Bihar will emerge as a major hub for textiles, tourism, and manufacturing in eastern India,” Modi said, underscoring the NDA’s focus on homegrown opportunity.
But the rally was as much about promises as it was about sharp attacks on the opposition. Modi pulled no punches in his critique of the Congress-RJD alliance, repeatedly invoking the specter of “jungle raj” — a term the BJP uses to criticize the lawlessness and misrule it associates with the earlier RJD regime. “On one side is the NDA’s honest manifesto for Bihar’s growth, while the ‘jungle raj’ alliance has made its manifesto a document of betrayal and lies. These god-like people are not fools — they know everything,” he said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
Modi took his criticism further, painting a grim picture of the opposition’s past governance. “Jungle Raj is the darkness that hollowed Bihar out. RJD’s Jungle Raj is identified by katta (gun), kroorta (cruelty), katuta (bitterness), kusanskar (superstition), kusashan (misgovernance), and corruption,” he declared, as reported by NDTV. “Nitish Kumar and the NDA government have brought Bihar out of that difficult era.”
In a notable escalation, the Prime Minister accused the opposition of backing infiltrators and endangering Bihar’s resources. “They are committed to protecting infiltrators. Don’t you have a right to Bihar’s resources? Will you let infiltrators capture Bihar? Aren’t those protecting them criminals? Their objectives are dangerous. So you must beware of RJD and Congress. They have studied in Jungle Raj’s pathshala,” Modi warned, urging voters to be vigilant.
Modi also questioned the opposition’s economic credentials, suggesting that those who had previously shut factories could hardly be trusted to create new businesses. “You tell me, those who hold the record of shutting factories, can they set up new businesses? When investors see the lantern (RJD’s symbol) and the red flag (CPIML symbol), will they invest their money here? Only NDA can bring investment and jobs,” he said, reinforcing the NDA’s narrative of economic progress.
The Prime Minister didn’t shy away from highlighting internal divisions within the opposition alliance. He claimed that the RJD had used strong-arm tactics to force Congress into accepting its chief ministerial candidate. “There’s a serious war between RJD and Congress. After the elections, they will start breaking each other’s heads — election ke baad yeh ek doosre ka sar fodne lagenge,” Modi quipped. He elaborated further, stating, “A day before the deadline for withdrawing nominations, a game of thuggery played out behind closed doors in Bihar. Congress never wanted to name an RJD leader the alliance’s Chief Ministerial candidate, but RJD did not lose the opportunity. RJD held a katta (gun) to Congress’s head and stole the Chief Minister post. They forced the announcement of the Chief Minister candidate.”
Modi also alleged that Congress was sidelined in the opposition’s campaign and manifesto process. “The tussle between RJD and Congress has intensified. Congress was not consulted on the manifesto, and is not being heard over the campaign. If there is so much hatred before the polls, they will start breaking each other’s heads later. Remember, such people cannot work for Bihar’s betterment,” he said, casting doubt on the alliance’s ability to govern effectively.
Operation Sindoor, a recent military operation, also featured prominently in Modi’s address. He hailed its success as a testament to India’s resolve against terrorism. “India will kill terrorists inside their own homes. Both Pakistan and Congress could not recover from the shock of Operation Sindoor,” he declared. According to NDTV, he added, “The explosions took place in Pakistan, but the Congress royal family spent sleepless nights. The naamdaars of Pakistan and Congress are yet to recover from the shock of Operation Sindoor.”
Modi’s speech was peppered with appeals to national pride and warnings about the dangers of returning to what he described as the dark days of “jungle raj.” He urged those in Delhi to witness firsthand the groundswell of support for the NDA in Bihar, asserting, “Those sitting in Delhi and making calculations must come to Bihar and see the wave themselves.”
The political stakes could hardly be higher. With the assembly elections just days away, both the NDA and the opposition are racing to sway undecided voters. Modi’s campaign schedule included a 3-km roadshow in Patna, culminating at the historic Gandhi Maidan, signaling the NDA’s determination to maintain its grip on Bihar.
As the campaign enters its final stretch, the contest in Bihar is shaping up to be a referendum on governance, economic opportunity, and the legacy of past administrations. Modi’s rally in Arrah was a showcase of the NDA’s confidence and a stark warning to voters: the choice, he argued, was between progress and a return to the past.
With tempers running high and political rhetoric at a fever pitch, Bihar’s voters will soon have their say. The outcome of these elections will not only determine the state’s immediate future but could also set the tone for national politics in the months ahead.
