Patna: Union agriculture minister and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a blistering attack on Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav at an NDA campaign rally in Jehanabad on Thursday, calling the two leaders “Bhasmasur” who would “exploit voters after taking their support”.
Speaking in Ghosi constituency’s Godsar village, Chouhan addressed a packed gathering organised in support of NDA candidate Rituraj Kumar. He warned voters against what he described as the possible return of “jungle raj”, a phrase often used by BJP and JD(U) leaders to criticise the governance style of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s earlier tenure.
Chouhan claimed the Congress and the RJD had “no agenda for development”, saying Rahul Gandhi was “busy fishing and making jalebis instead of discussing public welfare”. “Congress is collapsing because it has no vision. Rahul and Tejashwi are Bhasmasur — they will exploit the people after getting their votes,” he said.
He added that early trends from phase one suggested that the NDA was “on its way back to power” in the state, accusing the opposition of “preparing excuses about vote theft” ahead of the results.
The Union minister contrasted Lalu Prasad’s tenure with the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Nitish Kumar, listing government schemes such as free 125 units of electricity, ₹10,000 in women’s employment assistance, pucca houses, and higher pensions for senior citizens.
“Only the NDA will continue giving farmers ₹9,000 annually,” he added.
NDA leaders including MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal, former MP Arun Kumar, and JD(U) leaders called for unity to ensure the alliance’s victory. Candidate Rituraj Kumar urged people to see him as “a son of the soil”, promising to work as “a servant of the people”.
Chaos During Helicopter Landing
The rally saw a moment of confusion when Chouhan’s helicopter attempted to land near the venue. The designated helipad could not be used due to tall palm trees, prompting the pilot to land closer to the rally ground. The unexpected manoeuvre caused brief panic, with police rushing to secure the minister.
