Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh fired up the Bihar election trail on Thursday, boldly declaring the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) ironclad resolve to eradicate corruption from India's political fabric, transforming the nation into a "bharashtachar mukt" beacon of integrity. Speaking amid the high-octane first phase of polling across 121 constituencies—where voter turnout hit 53.77% by mid-afternoon—Singh emphasized that systemic reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership would ensure no corner of governance escapes scrutiny. This pledge comes as the NDA eyes a commanding two-thirds majority, building on its decade-long track record of funneling over Rs 15 lakh crore in central funds to Bihar, a stark contrast to the UPA era's meager Rs 2 lakh crore.

At a packed rally in East Champaran, Singh threw his weight behind JD(U) candidate Shalini Mishra from the Kesaria constituency, set for polls on November 11, urging voters to propel Bihar from enlightenment to empowerment. He painted a vivid blueprint of a "Viksit Bihar," aligning with Modi's 2047 vision for a developed India, where the state emerges as the linchpin—boasting strides in infrastructure, women's employment via schemes like the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (MMRY), and all-round progress that has silenced critics of the NDA's governance model.

In a ringing endorsement, Singh hailed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as one of India's most untainted leaders, noting that after two decades in power, "not a whisper of corruption" has ever tainted his record—a rarity in the cutthroat world of politics. This praise underscored the NDA's ethical high ground, with Singh contrasting Kumar's spotless tenure against the shadows of scandal that have plagued opposition figures, positioning the alliance as the sole guardian of clean, accountable administration in a state once synonymous with "jungle raj" chaos.

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Delivering a veiled barb at RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad—skirting any direct nod to his son Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan's CM hopeful—Singh quipped that politicians entangled in graft allegations should temper their rhetoric or step aside. Drawing from BJP veteran L.K. Advani's playbook, he recounted how Advani resigned amid baseless charges decades ago, insisting that true leaders must uphold moral dharma by vacating office until innocence is proven, a principle he argued has been forsaken in Bihar's opposition playbook.

As the rally crowd erupted in chants for Mishra, Singh wrapped with a clarion call: Politicians must deliver on promises, not peddle illusions, and only the NDA's moral compass can steer Bihar—and India—toward unblemished prosperity. With the second phase looming, his words not only galvanized supporters but amplified the NDA's anti-corruption crusade, setting the stage for a verdict that could redefine the state's developmental destiny.

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