Patna: As Bihar prepares for the decisive vote count on Friday, RJD leader and Grand Alliance chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has accused unnamed “retired officials” linked to the Chief Minister’s Office and “big leaders” from Delhi of attempting to influence the counting process in favour of the NDA.
The RJD leader warned election officials not to “repeat the mistakes of 2020”, claiming that pressure was being exerted to slow counting and manipulate outcomes.
Speaking in Patna on Thursday late evening after a strategy meeting with senior leaders of the Grand Alliance, including Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru, VIP chief Mukesh Sahni and CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Tejashwi said the alliance was headed for a “landslide victory” and that any attempt to tamper with results would provoke public anger.
Flanked by leaders of the Congress, VIP and CPI(ML), Tejashwi said: “We are warning officials involved in the counting process — do not repeat what happened in 2020. If anyone indulges in irregularities, they will receive a befitting reply. Those acting honestly have nothing to fear, but those acting at someone’s behest must think twice.”
He alleged that several officials had informed the alliance that they were receiving calls from Patna and Delhi instructing them to delay the count. “If the NDA is winning, the results should be announced immediately; if the Grand Alliance is winning, the results should not be declared — this is the kind of pressure being exerted,” he claimed.
Tejashwi insisted that the high voter turnout reflected a desire for change, particularly among young voters. “The people of Bihar have exercised their right to vote. Do not do injustice to them,” he said.
Describing the BJP’s claims of victory as “propaganda”, he added: “They know their government is falling. That is why they are spreading fear and exerting pressure.”
Counting for all 243 Assembly seats will begin at 8am on Friday.
