Bihar will reelect 'double engine' govt, reject 2 'yuvaraj': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is address election rallies in Bihar, seeking votes for NDA government.

Bihar will reelect the "double engine" government of Janata Dal United and the Bharatiya Janata Party, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, alleging the Opposition will bring back "jungle raj”.

"Voter turnout in phase one elections on Wednesday proves that the NDA government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is returning to power,” said Modi in Chapra. Turnout was almost 54 per cent on Wednesday.

"Today, Bihar has 'double-engine ki sarkar'. On the other hand, there are two 'yuvaraj' (crown princes) of whom one is from 'jungle raj'," referring to his political rivals Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party. The RJD and the Congress are contesting the Bihar elections as part of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance).

"The double-engined NDA government is committed to the development of Bihar. So the double crown princes are fighting to save their thrones," said Modi at the first of the day's four rallies in Chhapra, the political bastion of Lalu Prasad, the RJD leader who is serving a prison sentence in corruption cases.

"Three or four years ago, even in the Uttar Pradesh elections, double princes were shaking hands with the people from atop buses. They were made to return home by the people of Uttar Pradesh," he said, referring to the alliance between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party.

"A prince there has now met the prince of jungle raj," he said, adding like Uttar Pradesh, the two "crown princes" will bite the dust in Bihar.

The BJP often criticises Tejashwi, 31, and Rahul Gandhi, 50, for being members of political dynasties that it alleges are corrupt and privileged.