"Fastest growth rate under Nitish Kumar's rule": Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary

Patna (Bihar) [India], October 26 (ANI): Bihar Rural Work Department (RWD) Minister Ashok Choudhary on Sunday morning said that the state has the fastest growth rate in India under the Nitish Kumar government, as opposed to the lawlessness witnessed earlier under the opposition's "jungle raj".
"He (Amit Shah) meant to say that the growth rate of 3.5 to 4 per cent was brought down to 2.5 per cent during the jungle raj. The previous government had no governance policy. Nitish Kumar has brought the growth rate from 2.5 per cent to 10.4 per cent today. There was lawlessness in Bihar earlier. The businessmen couldn't do business. There was kidnapping and extortion," Choudhary told ANI.
"The progressive government in Bihar has made it the state with the fastest growth rate in India under Nitish Kumar's rule," he added.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav today said that people of the state have become aware of the "tactics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)" and were "impatient" for change in government.

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tejashwi argued that Bihar was being taken for a ride, given that major industries were being set up in Gujarat. He also mentioned the support that Mahagathbandhan has received from people ahead of the already announced assembly polls.
"The campaign has begun, and Bihar is impatient for change. Wherever we are going, people in large numbers from all castes and religions are coming to support us. People are fed up with the current government and want to change the Bihar government," said Yadav, who has been named as the Chief Ministerial candidate by the opposition grand alliance.
"Under this 20-year-old visionless government, corruption and crime have reached their peak. No action is being taken. Amit Shah has already clarified that no industries can be set up due to a lack of land. People have understood the tactics of the BJP that Modi has set up factories in Gujarat. Bihar ko thenga aur angutha dikha rahe hai (Bihar is being taken for a ride)," he added.
Tejashwi further announced that the honorarium and allowances of panchayat and village court representatives will be doubled after the Mahagathbandhan forms a government in Bihar.
Mahagathbandhan earlier declared Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face for the Bihar assembly polls, while also naming Mukesh Sahani of Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) as Deputy CM candidate.
The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections are set to witness a direct contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan.
The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
The Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), includes Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Mukesh Sahani's VIP.
Additionally, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has announced that it will contest all 243 Assembly seats in the state.
The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, and the counting of votes is scheduled for November 14. (ANI)