Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on the Congress and its ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) during a rally in Arrah on Sunday, accusing them of sleepless nights over the success of Operation Sindoor—a reference to India's surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan following the 2019 Pulwama attack. Addressing a massive crowd ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Modi quipped that while the nation celebrated the operation's precision and impact, the "Congress royal family"—a veiled jab at the Gandhi family—remained shocked, likening their discomfort to that of Pakistan's "naamdaars" (elite). "The explosions took place in Pakistan, but the Congress royal family spent sleepless nights," Modi declared, framing the opposition's alleged unease as disloyalty to national pride. The remarks, delivered with characteristic rhetorical flair, underscore Modi's strategy to rally nationalist sentiments in Bihar, a state where security and development dominate voter discourse.

Modi further mocked the opposition's internal discord, highlighting reports of acrimony over seat-sharing within the Mahagathbandhan alliance. He claimed that just before the nomination withdrawal deadline, RJD strong-armed Congress into announcing an RJD leader as the alliance's Chief Ministerial face, using a "katta" (gun) metaphor to depict the coercion. "Congress never wanted to name an RJD leader, but RJD held a gun to Congress's head and stole the Chief Minister post," he alleged, painting a picture of backstage thuggery. The Prime Minister warned that such pre-poll infighting—evident in Congress's exclusion from manifesto consultations and campaign decisions—bodes ill for post-election stability, asserting, "If there is so much hatred before the polls, they will start breaking each other's heads later." This narrative positions the NDA as a unified force against a fractious opposition, appealing to voters wary of coalition instability.

Drawing a stark contrast between the NDA's "susashan" (good governance) and the RJD's infamous "jungle raj"—the term popularised by the BJP to evoke the lawlessness of Lalu Prasad Yadav's 1990s regime—Modi lambasted the opposition's legacy of "katta (gun), kroorta (cruelty), katuta (bitterness), kusanskar (superstition), kusashan (misgovernance), and corruption." He credited Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the NDA for rescuing the state from that "dark era", citing improvements in law and order, infrastructure, and economic revival under their watch. Modi's rhetoric revives a potent BJP campaign theme, resonating in a state still scarred by memories of kidnappings, caste violence, and industrial flight during the RJD's tenure, while positioning the NDA as the architect of Bihar's turnaround.

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The Prime Minister escalated his critique by accusing Congress and RJD of shielding infiltrators, questioning locals' access to state resources amid alleged demographic shifts. "Don't you have a right to Bihar's resources? Will you let infiltrators capture Bihar? Aren't those protecting them criminals?" he asked, framing the opposition's policies as a threat to indigenous Biharis. This line taps into regional anxieties over migration and border security, particularly in border districts, bolstering Modi's appeal to Hindu-majority voters in the NDA's core base.

Finally, Modi targeted the opposition's economic track record, rhetorically asking if parties responsible for shuttering factories could foster new investments. "When investors see the lantern (RJD's symbol) and the red flag (CPIML symbol), will they invest here? Only NDA can bring investment and jobs," he proclaimed, touting initiatives like the "Viksit Bharat" vision. With Bihar's youth unemployment hovering around 13% per recent NSSO data, these promises of industrial revival strike at the heart of electoral stakes, as the NDA seeks to retain power in the November 6-11 phased polls. Modi's fiery oratory not only energises supporters but also sets the tone for a polarised campaign, where governance triumphs over alleged dynastic and criminal shadows.

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