'Bihar needs start-ups, not hands up': PM Modi continues to attack RJD over 'jungle raj', invokes 'katta'

PM Modi in Sitamarhi

Addressing a public rally in Bihar's Sitamarhi on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi again aimed at the Rashtriya Janata Dal over 'jungle raj' during 15 years of its rule in the state.

As the first phase of voting finished in Bihar on November 6, the PM held an election rally in Sitamarhi and said that Bihar now needs 'start-ups and not hands up'.

Stressing that the state is in dire need of opportunities in education, sports and employment for development, he slammed the RJD invoking the 'katta' (pistol) reference over 'jungle raj'.

"In Bihar, it's fashionable to come here with a pistol and say, 'Hands up'... Now, there's no place in Bihar for those who say 'Hands up'... Bihar needs 'startup', not 'Hands up', PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is providing the children of Bihar with books, computers and laptops.

Attacking the RJD over dynasty politics, with the party's supremo Tejashwi Yadav being made the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan with Congress, PM Modi said that they "only want to make their own children ministers, MPs, MLAs and Chief Ministers."

"We're giving children books, computers, and laptops. Our children want to excel in sports... But the RJD is talking about giving pistols and double-barreled guns. These people want to make their own children ministers, MPs, MLAs, and Chief Ministers," PM Modi said.

Stepping up the attack against the 'jungle raj' of RJD, the Prime Minister spoke about "katta, Kroorta, Katuta, Kusanskar and corruption."

"Jungle Raj means Katta, Kroorta, Katuta, Kusanskar and corruption. These people have bad values. They want bad governance," he said.

PM Modi said as soon as the 'jungle raj' came, the era of Bihar's downfall began.

He said RJD ended all the development work in Bihar and claimed that any talks of development from them are a 'white lie'.

The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections 2025 recorded a voter turnout of 65.08 per cent, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar announced on Saturday.

The CEO of Bihar stated that the first phase of the assembly elections was successfully conducted on November 6, 2025, across 121 seats in 18 districts of the state.

According to the CEO, the average voter turnout in the 2020 Bihar Assembly General Elections was 57.29 per cent, while the turnout for the 2024 Lok Sabha General Elections stood at 56.28 per cent. This reflects an overall increase in voter participation in the state compared to the previous two elections.

The CEO of Bihar stated that this year's election in the state saw a 7.79 per cent increase in voter turnout compared to the 2020 Bihar Assembly General Elections. Additionally, there was an 8.8 per cent increase in voter turnout compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha General Elections.

On November 6, voting was held for 121 seats across 18 districts, marking the completion of the first phase of polling. The second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections is scheduled for November 11, with counting of votes to be conducted on November 14.

In the second phase, 122 seats in 20 districts will go to the polls, and subsequently, polling for the Bihar elections will conclude. Districts including Aurangabad, Jahanabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Purnia and others will be included in the second phase.

With ANI inputs