Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday claimed that the Opposition has problems with the chants of “Jai Shree Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki jai”, reported ANI.

Speaking at an election rally in Bihar’s Saharsa district, Modi, without naming the grand alliance comprising the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Left parties, said: “Those who brought jungle raj in Bihar and their allies...do you know what they want? They want that you do not chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shree Ram.”

Modi also reiterated that the National Democratic Alliance would be voted back to power in Bihar and the state would progress at a faster pace with the “double engine government” at the helm of affairs. Taking a jibe at Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, he said the people of Bihar have rejected the “double yuvraj” (two princes).

He also made an appeal to people to buy local products during the festive season.

Earlier during the day, the prime minister held his first rally in Forbesganj in Araria district. “Bihar has given a clear message, on the basis of the initial information we’re getting, that the state is set to re-elect the NDA government,” Modi said, reported NDTV.

Modi mocked the Opposition and said the people of Bihar have rejected their “gundaraj”. “Lawlessness and extortion are losing while development is winning,” he added. “Egos are being deflated, and hard work is being rewarded in Bihar. Corruption is losing, while peoples rights are winning. The rule of goons is losing and the rule of law is winning.”

He also criticised the Congress and said that people were disenchanted by the party’s false promises. “The public cannot be fooled for long, look at what condition the public has put Congress party in...” he told the crowd in Forbesganj. “Today they do not even have a total of 100 MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...people still punish them whenever there’s a chance.”

The prime minister added that the voter enthusiasm in Bihar amid the coronavirus pandemic demonstrates deep roots of democracy in India. He claimed the voter turnout recorded in the state till 10 am was higher than the percentage recorded in previous elections.

“Not just the country, Bihar is giving message to the world,” he said, according to ANI. “In Covid-19 times, people are coming out in huge numbers to vote. This is democracy’s power and every Bihari’s devotion for it. Think tanks around the world will evaluate how deeply democracy is entrenched in Indian minds.”

Meanwhile 94 seats across 17 districts went to polls for the second phase of Assembly elections in the state on Tuesday.

In the first phase on October 28, voting was held for 71 seats and a turnout of around 55% was recorded. The third and final phase of the election in which 78 seats will vote is on November 7. Results for all 243 Assembly constituencies will be declared on November 10.