Modi-Nitish government stifled the aspirations of Bihar’s youth, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (October 28, 2025) accused the “Modi-Nitish” government of crushing the dreams of youth in Bihar, leaving the State neglected and trailing on almost every development indices.

In a post on X, Mr. Gandhi shared a video of his recent interaction with young people from Bihar, where he discussed education, healthcare, and employment. “There is only one culprit for the deplorable condition of Bihar — the BJP-JDU government,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. Renewing the Mahagatbandhan’s (Grand Alliance) commitment to justice, he said the time for change had come.

“The youth of Bihar are well aware of how, over the past 20 years, this Modi-Nitish government has strangled their aspirations, left the State abandoned, and pushed it into the abyss on every parameter,” he said.

Citing government data, Mr. Gandhi said Bihar ranked 27th out of 29 States in dropout rates for Classes 9 and 10, 28th in enrolment for Classes 11 and 12, and 28th in female literacy. On the employment front, Bihar stood 21st in the service sector and 23rd in industry and manufacturing, he said.

In health indicators, the State ranked 27th in infant mortality rate, 27th in insurance coverage, and last in access to household toilets. He further noted that Bihar was 27th in the Human Development Index (HDI) and 25th in per capita income. “These are not just numbers; they are a mirror reflecting how far the so-called ‘double engine’ government has dragged Bihar backwards,” Mr. Gandhi said.

Praising the youth of Bihar as talented and hardworking, the Opposition leader accused the government of giving them “unemployment and despair instead of opportunity”. “Now is the time for change, to rekindle Bihar’s pride,” he said, urging support for the Grand Alliance’s vision of justice and progress.

During his meeting with students from Bihar studying in Delhi, Mr. Gandhi asked whether they had been forced to leave the State for education, to which many agreed, citing poor conditions in local institutions. Some students also spoke about discrimination, saying that “Bihari” was often used as a slur in universities. Sharing a lighter moment with the students, Mr. Gandhi also tried speaking in Bhojpuri to wish the people of Bihar on the occasion of Chhath festival.

Polling for the 243-member Bihar Assembly will be held on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14.