‘Development, jobs to be NDA’s poll plank in state’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother will not be a poll issue, BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal tells TOI’s Jainarain Pandey in an exclusive interview. He says development and jobs under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar will be the main election plank in Bihar. Excerpts:Will BJP make the abusive language used for PM Modi’s mother an election issue in Bihar?No. The Darbhanga incident from the Congress-RJD stage during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in on Aug 27 has shamed the state.

BJP and the NDA will go to the people with the development works and welfare schemes launched under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar.Then why was a Bihar bandh called?It was a spontaneous decision taken by the women’s wings of the NDA partners after the PM shared his agony with the Jeevika didis in Bihar.RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav says the PM was laughing abroad but started crying in India over the Darbhanga incidentTejashwi can never say anything on his own. It’s all scripted and shameful.

The controversy would have ended that very day if Rahul Gandhi or Tejashwi had condemned the incident.Which areas of the state, in your view, need more attention before the assembly polls?NDA partners are working together like never before. Even during the Bihar bandh, flags of all NDA partners were seen on the streets. Our assembly-wise workers’ meetings have been a great success. We will connect with every household in the state to highlight what has been done during the NDA regime for women’s empowerment, youth, jobs and employment.

The steps taken by the NDA govt have been historic for Bihar.What success mantra did the Union home minister give Bihar BJP core committee members in the Delhi meeting?Every NDA worker should spend at least five days in each village to convey the works of the govt.How will GST rate cuts impact the Bihar polls?It is a slap on the face of opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, who called the Indian economy ‘dead’. It is also a strong reply to the US 50% tariff, and PM Modi has shown how Bharat turns every challenge into an opportunity.

That’s the beauty of quality leadership in a country like India.The PM is coming again on Sept 15. How are the preparations?He is coming to Bihar for the 10th time in the last one year — after Darbhanga, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Jhanjharpur, Bikramganj, Siwan, Motihari, Gayaji and now Purnia on Sept 15. Each time, he has gifted Bihar schemes and projects worth several crores for the benefit of the people. Over 3 lakh people are expected in Purnia, where 1.5 lakh chairs will be arranged for the audience.