Bihar: CPI Holds 'BJP Hatao Desh Bachao' Rally Ahead of Amit Shah’s November 5 Visit

Patna: The Communist Party of India (CPI) held the "BJP Hatao Desh Bachao" rally in Patna on Thursday. The rally was held to showcase its strength ahead of a major Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) event featuring Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 5 in Muzaffarpur district.

Thousands of people, primarily villagers, gathered at the Miller High School ground near Birchand Patel Marg in the heart of Patna for CPI's rally. The entire ground was adorned with banners, posters, and flags, with red flags flying throughout Patna's busy roads on November 2. Party workers and supporters wearing red badges had started arriving for the rally on the night of November 1.

Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, addressing the rally, criticised the BJP for sowing hatred and engaging in vindictive politics to suppress the opposition's voice. He noted, "Some people have been distributing swords among youths while we are distributing jobs among the youth in Bihar."

Yadav further emphasised that they had promised 10 lakh government jobs to the youth and had already announced vacancies for four lakh jobs, including 1.20 lakh positions for school teachers, which were distributed on November 2. He assured thousands of households would celebrate a joyous Diwali this year, as their Mahagathbandan government, in power for 14 months, was dedicated to fulfilling their promise of job creation.

Amid the Central government's termination of government jobs, the Mahagathbandan government has been actively generating employment opportunities.

CPI Secretary D Raja, in his address, criticised the PM Modi-led central government for undermining democratic systems and constitutional institutions. He stated, "CPI, along with other opposition parties, has come together to defeat the Modi government in the upcoming elections to safeguard the country, democracy, and the constitution."

The CPI had extended invitations to Kumar, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad, Bihar Congress President Akhilesh Singh, and leaders of other left parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Liberation (CPI(ML)), to attend its rally. However, the RJD chief did not participate in the event. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, also the de facto chief of JD-U (Janata Dal-United), which is a part of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), criticised the Congress for not actively contributing to the strengthening of the Opposition alliance. 

Kumar highlighted that the Congress seemed preoccupied with the ongoing Assembly elections in five states, showing limited interest in the Opposition alliance. In a candid statement, Kumar, a seasoned politician who played a pivotal role in shaping the opposition alliance to challenge the BJP-led NDA in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, conveyed a political message to Congress, urging them to prioritise INDIA.

"Opposition unity is crucial to defeating the BJP. Congress appears more engrossed in the ongoing assembly elections and seems disinterested in the opposition alliance for now. There is currently no discussion to advance the opposition alliance. Once the assembly elections conclude, Congress will summon us for further discussions," Kumar stated.

He reminisced about the formation of the opposition alliance and the collaborative efforts that led to its establishment. "We were all working together to strengthen the Congress party, but it seems they are not focused on these matters at the moment. There isn't much progress in the opposition alliance right now."

Kumar emphasised that opposition parties had united to safeguard the country and its constitution from those in power who were determined to rewrite history. "We must unite to defeat them."

Kumar also criticised the BJP for its attempts to polarise people along Hindu-Muslim lines. "They (BJP) consistently seek to create turmoil in the name of Hindu-Muslim issues and have no genuine commitment to development or employment."

The November 2, 2023, rally holds significant importance following Nitish Kumar's departure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in August 2022 and his alignment with the Mahagathbandhan. It represents the first political display of the opposition alliance INDIA within the state, where the initial meeting of the opposition alliance took place in June. After the meeting in Patna, the opposition alliance INDIA took concrete form and accelerated its efforts to challenge and counter the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, in the upcoming polls.