Patna: Senior Union Minister Giriraj Singh has issued a pointed warning to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, cautioning against overemphasis on “strike rate” statistics and superficial displays of strength. Without naming him directly, Singh appeared to take aim at Chirag Paswan, critiquing leaders who boast of strong constituencies while overlooking grassroots work.
Speaking to reporters and through social media, Singh recalled the NDA’s historic performance in the 2010 Bihar elections, when the alliance won 206 out of 243 seats. He highlighted that the Janata Dal (United) secured 115 out of 141 seats, achieving a strike rate of 81%, while the BJP won 91 out of 102 seats, with a strike rate of 89%—a feat unmatched in Bihar’s political history.
Singh urged party workers to move away from performative politics, often referred to as “feel good” politics, and instead focus on organisational engagement and listening to the people. He emphasised that Bihar voters recognise Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the true faces of the NDA.
“This is what real strike rate looks like,” Singh wrote on social media. “Some leaders today are jingling the ‘strike rate’ bell, focusing only on strong seats. In 2010, NDA made history. Let’s prioritise the people’s voice over mere optics.”
