"People won't vote for fishing or preparing jalebis": Shivraj Singh Chouhan takes jibe at Rahul Gandhi's election campaign

New Delhi [India], November 6 : Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday took a jibe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's election campaign in Bihar, saying that the people will not vote for "fishing or preparing jalebis," and added that the Lok Sabha LoP has already ceded defeat.
Speaking with ANI, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Rahul Gandhi has already admitted his defeat. A day before voting, he alleged vote theft. Public doesn't vote for them and he says that votes have been stolen. People won't vote for fishing or preparing jalebis. So, Mahagathbandhan has already admitted defeat and NDA's 'mahavijay' is certain."
Exuding confidence in NDA's victory, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that people will vote for 'Sushasan' development and public welfare.
He criticised former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Yadav's governance, which he termed as 'jungle raaj'
"Today's voting itself is telling tales of the massive victory of NDA. People of Bihar are voting for 'Sushasan', development and public welfare. During his rule, Lalu didn't govern but oppressed. Fear, corruption, hunger was made the identity of Bihar. But today, there is no fear but trust, there is no corruption but innovation, no jungle raj but sushasan," he said.
Meanwhile, PM Modi accused RJD of doing "zero (nil bate sannata)" development across the state as he reiterated his "jungleraj" jibe.
The Prime Minister, while addressing a rally in Araria, asked how many expressways, bridges, sports complexes, and tourist circuits had been built across Bihar, stating the answer was zero.
"From 1990 to 2005, for 15 years, the government of "Jungle Raj" completely ruined Bihar. In the name of running the government, you were only looted. You must remember one figure in those 15 years of Jungle Raj, how many expressways were built in Bihar? Zero. Zero means "nil bate sannata". Do you know how many bridges were built over the Kosi River in those 15 years of Jungle Raj? Zero. Not even one was constructed. In those 15 years of Jungle Raj, how many tourist circuits were developed in Bihar? Zero nil bate sannata. And in those 15 years, how many sports complexes were developed for our youth and daughters to play and progress? Again zero, nil bate sannata." he said.
Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 27.65 per cent in the first four hours of the first phase of assembly elections, according to the data of the Election Commission of India.
The Begusarai district recorded the highest turnout of 30.37 per cent, while Patna, the capital of the state, recorded a slow turnout of 23.71 per cent till 11 am. Lakhisarai, which earlier recorded a sluggish turnout at 9 am, has now recorded a turnout of 30.32 per cent till 11 am.
Voting for the first phase of the 2025 assembly elections in Bihar began today at 7.00 am across 121 constituencies in 18 districts of the state's 243 seats, with approximately 3.75 crore electors casting their ballot.
Polling will conclude at 6 pm, and due to security considerations, polling time has been curtailed to 5 pm in some constituencies.
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, polling took place in three phases. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 125 seats, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan (MGB) won 110. Among the major parties, the Janata Dal (United) bagged 43 seats and the Congress 19. The JD(U) had contested 115 constituencies and the BJP 110, whereas the RJD contested 144 seats and the Congress 70.