As the Bihar Assembly elections of 2025 approach, the political atmosphere is intensifying. Political parties are engaging in a flurry of accusations and counter-accusations, aggressively campaigning on the electoral stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of insults directed at his mother during an India coalition rally. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, in a strategic move, appears to be following suit.
Historically, when Prime Minister Modi has been subjected to disparaging remarks from opposition parties, he has responded with composure rather than aggression. Furthermore, he has transformed personal attacks into campaign issues, using them to his advantage in rallies and putting the opposition on the defensive.
In the 2007 Gujarat Assembly elections, Sonia Gandhi labeled him a ‘merchant of death,’ which proved costly for her party. Similarly, before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar called him a ‘tea seller,’ and Priyanka Gandhi used the word ‘neech.’ Moreover, Rahul Gandhi referred to PM Modi as ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which backfired.
Now, ahead of the Bihar elections, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav organized a voter rights yatra. During this, PM Modi’s mother was verbally abused from a stage in Darbhanga. While the Congress and RJD claimed that Rahul and Tejashwi were not present during the incident, PM Modi stated that his mother, who is no longer alive, was subjected to vulgar abuse from the Congress and RJD platform. He emphasized that a mother is the world and pride for everyone. He expressed disbelief over the incident, given Bihar’s rich traditions. He also highlighted that his mother has no involvement in politics, yet she was targeted.
The issue of the derogatory remarks about PM Modi’s mother gained momentum in Bihar, and the BJP turned it into a campaign issue because the opposition lacked a counter-narrative. However, Tejashwi Yadav is attempting to find a solution. He has introduced the slogan of ‘Empowered Women, Strong Women, and Safe Women.’ He has also redefined the meaning of the word MAA (Mother).
Tejashwi participated in a women’s dialogue organized by the party at Patna’s Veterinary College on Thursday. He stated that a large number of women had gathered, and they would implement the MAA scheme to honor women. He explained that MAA stands for Makaan (House), Annaaj (Grain), and Aamdani (Income). Tejashwi aims to appease women voters, who play a significant role in the state.
Every political party is focused on women voters. The RJD, part of the India coalition, announced the launch of the MAA scheme. On Friday, Priyanka Gandhi will interact with approximately 2,000 women at Patna’s Sadaqat Ashram and may release an election manifesto for women. Priyanka is focusing on women from grassroots levels, including domestic workers, ASHA workers, those working under MNREGA, Jeevika didis, doctors, and professional lawyers.
Meanwhile, PM Modi is set to give a Diwali gift to 75 lakh women under the Chief Minister’s Women Employment Scheme on Friday. He will deposit ₹10,000 each into their bank accounts through DBT. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will be the chief guest at the event. The funds, amounting to ₹7,500 crore, will be provided from the state treasury. This scheme aims to reach out to a large section of women.
The importance of female voters for the NDA can be gauged by the decisions of Nitish Kumar. After assuming the position of Bihar’s CM in 2005, he made several crucial decisions in favor of women. In 2006, he reserved 50% of seats for women in rural and urban local bodies, making Bihar the first state to do so. He initiated the Chief Minister’s Balika Cycle Yojana. In 2016, he decided to provide 35% reservation to women in all state jobs. Additionally, the Chief Minister Kanya Utthan Yojana in 2018 provided financial assistance to women until graduation.