Bihar Assembly polls: Modi invokes katta jibe again, Priyanka slams PM, Kharge says Nitish ‘in BJP’s lap’

With the first phase of the Bihar Assembly election for 121 constituencies set for November 6, leaders of political parties are leaving no stones unturned in hurling barbs at each other. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the Rashtriya Janata Dal put a “katta [country-made revolver] to the Congress party’s head to get the Chief Minister’s post”, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday (November 3, 2025) countered him, saying, “Jaisi jiski sochh, waisa uska vichar [As one thinks, so is one’s opinion]”.

Priyanka hits out

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, addressing a public meeting at Sonbarsa in Saharsa, said Mr. Modi should create an “Insult Ministry” as he “often insults Opposition leaders and the country as well with his lies”. While alleging that the Bihar government is being “remote-controlled” from Delhi, Ms. Vadra slammed the Prime Minister saying, “He rakes up unnecessary issues but is silent on the corruption and misrule of the National Democratic Alliance government in Bihar”.

“The youth are forced to leave Bihar because there are no jobs here. All major public sector units which generate employment have been handed over to big corporate houses that are friends of the BJP,” she further alleged.

Modi’s attack

Continuing his attack on Mahagatbandhan leaders on Monday while addressing a rally at Katihar, Mr. Modi, in a veiled attack on RJD chief Lalu Prasad, asked: “Why pictures of a big leader of Bihar have gone missing or being pushed to a corner in posters?”

He further held the RJD and Congress responsible for Bihar’s backwardness and asserted that the NDA stood for “development”. “The RJD is known for kata and kushashan [misgovernance] and now the Congress wants to grab the RJD’s vote bank… The RJD put katta to the head of Congress to steal the Chief Minister’s post,” reiterated Mr. Modi at the Katihar public meeting.

At Saharsha, he highlighted “Bihar’s progress under the NDA regime and called for support to accelerate the growth”. He further said those who were making “fun of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao slogan must be feeling mortified” over “the historic World Cup win by women cricketers. This has happened for the first time in the country. The daughters of the country have made history”, Mr. Modi said. “To our mothers and sisters who have benefitted from the welfare schemes of the NDA, I would say beware of the jungle raj wallahs, they intend to put a stop to all these measures upon coming to power.”

Yadav’s reply

Reacting to the PM’s remarks, Mr. Yadav said, “As one thinks, so is one’s opinion... He talks of katta in Bihar and of setting up factories in Gujarat”. He addressed over a dozen public meetings, appealing to people to vote for the Mahagatbandhan to bring jobs to the State.

Rahul should be a cook: Tej

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi jumping into a muddy pond in Begusarai and fishing with fishermen there, Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of Mr. Prasad quipped, “To fry jalebi and catch fish, he should have been a cook… Why did he become a politician?” asked Mr. Tej Pratap. Mr. Tej Pratap had recently formed a new political party, the Janshakti Janata Dal, and will be contesting the election from Mahua constituency against RJD candidate Mukesh Raushan. As his younger brother and the Opposition’s CM face, Mr. Yadav had gone to Mahua on November 2 to campaign for the RJD candidate, Mr. Tej Pratap fumed on Monday: “I too will go to Raghopur [Mr. Yadav’s seat] soon to land my helicopter at two places”.

Nitish’s appeal and Shah’s declaration

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar campaigned in Bhagalpur and appealed to the people to vote for NDA candidates while at Sitamarhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared: “I’m telling you the Bihar poll results now, the parties of Lalu Prasad and Rahul Gandhi would be finished by 1 p.m. on November 14.” “There is a lot of confusion among Mahagatbandhan. They neither have a leader nor policies... or, intention. One doesn’t know who is contesting from which seat”.

Kharge’s charge

At Vaishali, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Mr. Kumar “was sitting on the BJP’s lap but will lose the CM’s post to some chela [disciple]”. Slamming Mr. Kumar’s 20-year regime, Mr. Kharge charged, “He ruled for 20 years but failed to provide jobs or stop migration. He also betrayed the legacy of socialist icons like Jayaparakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur and joined hands with the anti-woman BJP”.

Mr Kharge also took a jibe at Mr. Modi. “He has time to tour the world but not to take care of affairs of the State… he can be seen only during election time… You can see Modi roaming through the streets of a city even during municipal polls”.

Rousing welcome for Lalu

Mr. Prasad, along with his older daughter and party’s MP from Patliputra Lok Sabha constituency Misa Bharti, held a road show in Danapur. He was campaigning in support of Ritalal Yadav, the incarcerated RJD candidate of Danapur. Former BJP MP from the seat, Ram Kripal Yadav, who lost in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to Ms. Bharti, is the NDA candidate here. Until a few years ago, he was considered as Mr. Prasad Man Friday. Mr. Prasad was welcomed with flowers showered from earthmovers.