ET Exclusive | People of Bihar have decided to counter any tactics used against them: Tejashwi Yadav
Edited excerpts:
First stage voting has ended. What is your prediction for the alliance’s performance?
We received votes from all segments of society. People voted for a new Bihar. I think the first phase lays a solid foundation for the Mahagathbandhan government in the state. This is just the beginning and the momentum will carry forward in the second phase.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed in the press conference that the Election Commission was helping the BJP rob the elections in the states and the same could happen in Bihar.
They systematically eliminated voters in the SIR to the detriment of the opposition. In the midst of the election, the state government is transferring Rs 10,000 to the accounts of women voters to influence their voting preferences. We complained to the EC but nothing happened. Instead, the EC includes these women beneficiaries in the selection task. Union ministers have been openly requesting their supporters not to allow anyone who did not vote for them to come out and exercise their fundamental right to vote. The role of the EC has always been questionable. But despite their (AK) evil intentions, the people of Bihar, especially the youth, decided to neutralize any of their tactics. Bihar will give a befitting response to any state institution that is compromised and works for the BJP instead of the country.In the 2020 Assembly election, RJD performed very well and you emerged as the party leader. Has that moment faded a bit?In fact, we have become stronger in five years. We also proved that we are a very strong opposition. We have largely succeeded in shaping the government’s agenda. The people of Bihar have seen this and we have our voice and political will. We also have a stronger alliance this time with the launch of VIP and IIP. In comparison, NDA has five parties, but everyone can see the difference and how busy they are trying to finish each other off. The BJP did not announce Nitish Kumar as the CM face. They had to say this but everyone knows that Nitish Kumar will not be the prime minister in 2025. There is a strong tide against the mandate. People think the last ten years have been wasted. From farmers to workers, from young people to women, everyone wants change, and this wave of change cannot be stopped.
Question: You managed to make employment the main theme of the elections in 2020. That buzz is missing this time.
The biggest problem of this election is employment along with education and health. We’re talking about jobs. In fact, we say that Bihar’s transformation will happen through our mass employment agenda. We announced that if the alliance came to power, each family would be provided with a civil servant position within 20 months. In my public meetings, I appeal to young people and Generation Z who gave us a chance… During the 18 months we were in government, we ensured that the government’s job promises were fulfilled. People now saw the so-called “double engine” government. In the name of development, they have achieved nothing but corruption and unemployment. Two engines pull the train from opposite ends. The tug of war is visible to everyone. Forget the train, even the drivers are remotely controlled. INDIA alliance is steadily moving towards majority and victory. Public anger is visible on the ground; They want change and this change will come through the INDIA alliance. We receive great support in every rally, every village, every neighborhood.
You announced that you will give Rs 30,000 to women on January 14 if your party comes to power. Is it against the effect of Rs 10,000 given by the government?
We were the first to announce Rs 2,500 per month to women under the ‘Mai Bahin Scheme’. This government is a copycat government. They copied our retirement announcement and increased the pension by Rs 700. Once we come to power, we will increase the pension from the current Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,500. This Rs 10,000 given to women is a one-time election stunt. They are trying to buy votes by paying a one-time payment of 10,000 rupees. Our program is permanent; We will provide women with Rs 2,500 per month, which translates to Rs 30,000 per year. The first Rs 30,000 will be given immediately after the formation of our government on January 14 to help women cope with inflation. This is real women empowerment. We do not believe in one-time payments. We believe in women’s economic independence.
Is it possible to provide one government job per family? The announcement seems like an over-promise to win the election. Do you have a plan?
When I said that 10 lakh government jobs would be given in the last election, CM Nitish Kumar used to question me on how to do this. When he was on our side, I joined the government and showed how to achieve this within 18 months. We implemented a transparent recruitment process, filled vacancies on time, eliminated corruption and nepotism, and gave young people real opportunities, not false assurances.
Now they are asking the same question. I want to assure you that this is not an empty promise. It is a concrete plan based on experience and performance. First, we will accelerate the recruitment of hundreds of thousands of vacant government positions without any delay. The second is to ensure transparency and restore people’s trust in the examination system. The third will be mapping and planning the business, taking into account the needs of the next 10 years by exploring new sectors.
It seems like you haven’t been able to shake off the ‘Jungle Raj’ tag of the past and it continues to bother you.
The media likes to label this. Despite Bihar having one of the highest crimes among the states, Nitish Kumar was labeled ‘Sushashan Babu’ and escaped criticism from the media. Murders, looting and crimes against women occur every day. Ministers’ convoys are being attacked and MLAs are being shot at; whose rule is this? The real jungle raj is happening right now. From sexual assault to murder, from corruption to recruitment fraud, all kinds of criminals seek refuge in Bihar. This is not just forest raj; this is also a crime of corruption under the BJP-JDU rule. This is true dual engine. Paper leaks, land scams, liquor mafia, everything is clearly thriving under their rule. When they can’t answer, they play the caste card. They do not talk about their 20-year rule and always try to take people back to the past years.
You attracted the attention of young voters in 2020. Do you think young voters are a little reluctant this time?
This is not true. Young voters are waiting for the day when they will change this government full of broken promises. We communicated directly with young people. I am personally active on social media and interact with young people regularly. They want better opportunities and jobs, and they trust us based on our track record. I have full faith in the young generation. They are knowledgeable and decide their future by fighting for their rights. No one can deceive them for long. They will change the government for a better Bihar.
Was there no delay in resolving the issues regarding seat sharing and the face of the prime ministership within the alliance? You were out of the campaign for almost 15 days.
There was no delay. Seat sharing was done democratically and everyone expressed their wishes. We held a joint press conference to announce the seat sharing and the faces of our CM and Deputy CM. We moved forward with respect and cooperation. The campaign is going really well and all alliance partners are on the field. I speak at more than 15 rallies every day. Our allies like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mukesh Sahni, Dipankar Bhattacharya, IP Gupta are working hard to ensure the majority of the Mahagathbandhan. The public can clearly see the option between a united INDIA alliance against a divided NDA.
It looks like there are some problems in your family. You kept them away from campaigning and your brother founded a party and is participating in the elections.
The party is bigger than the family. And there is no difference within the family. Politics is not a family business; It is a way to serve people. BJP leaders accuse RJD of being a dynastic party, but look at its leaders. From Samrat Choudhary, Nitish Mishra, Shreyashi Singh, Neeraj Bablu, Sanjeev Chaurasia to Nitin Navin and many others, the dynasty starts from the top. I want to show that RJD is not a dynastic party but a party of democracy and development. We have a vision and a desire to work. I took this decision to make every employee feel that opportunities exist for everyone, not just one family. There is no one from my family other than me who is fighting in the Assembly elections. This is not just an election strategy, it is a step towards strengthening the organization and protecting democratic values.
This is the first time that RJD has denied tickets to more than 30 MLAs.
The decision was based on feedback from party workers and ground surveys. We put candidates on the field in the constituency who can fulfill the demands of the people. We made decisions based on performance and public opinion. In many areas, people wanted new faces, fresh energy and young leadership. This was not a personal decision, but a decision taken to respect the public and strengthen the organization.
