Tejashwi challenges Bihar CM, deputy CMs for a public debate over State’s progress

Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday (April 5, 2026) slammed the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, claiming that it has failed in every sector. BJP and JD- (U) hit back, saying Bihar has flourished under the leadership of Mr. Kumar.

Writing a post on the social media platform Mr. Yadav said that Bihar has the lowest literacy rate, per capita income, farmers’ income, per capita investment, per capita consumption, per capita rural income, and per capita electricity consumption in the country.”

Taking a dig, he further said, “Bihar has the highest crime rate, highest poverty, highest migration, highest corruption, highest unemployment, tops in violent crimes and kidnappings in the country. Bihar also has the highest number of cities among India’s 50 most polluted cities.”

Claiming the government’s data, Mr. Yadav pointed out that Bihar has the highest school dropout rate, the worst pupil-teacher ratio, the lowest quality of education, and the fewest colleges per lakh population in the country. He added that in NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals and all development indicators, Bihar ranks at the bottom.

“Bihar has the highest number of underweight children in the country, the highest number of stunted children, the highest number of anemic women and the highest number of vacant doctors’ positions in the country. Nearly 58% of positions are vacant. Bihar has the highest number of people living in slums in the country. 14% of Bihar’s population lives in slums,”Mr. Yadav said,

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Yadav said that Bihar lags the most in modern facilities and services in the country, and also lags in health services and facilities. Bihar is the most backward in industrialisation, industrial development, production, and investment.”

He asked why, even after 21 years of NDA rule, Bihar remains far below the national average in all these development indicators.

“Until you identify the problem and solve it, you will have to keep hiding your failures by repeatedly resorting to things like manipulating institutions like the Election Commission, misuse of government machinery, and peddling white lies like giving Rs 10000 cash, 1 crore jobs, and 2 lakh rupees to every woman during elections,”Mr. Yadav said.

The RJD leader said that under the NDA government of 21 years and the double-engine government of 12 years, Bihar has been at the bottom rung in most social, human, and economic indicators—from education-employment-income, industrial development-production and investment, to health services-facilities and nutrition.

“Corrupt rulers feel insulted when Bihar is called the most backward and poorest state because it exposes their white lies and monumental failures, revealing their true face, which causes unbearable pain and agony to the NDA’s leaders. The shameless, failed, incompetent, and useless government keeps blaming the opposition for everything to hide its own failure and hollow claims,”Mr. Yadav said.

He challenged Nitish Kumar and the two Deputy Chief Ministers (Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha) for a public debate on Bihar’s progress and improvement anywhere and anytime.

BJP leader Niraj Kumar lashed out at RJD leader and asked to recall the jungle raj of Lalu-Rabri.

“You’ve listed every negative indicator for Bihar, but the truth is that during your father’s 15-year rule (1990-2005), Bihar was at the bottom, and after 2005, Nitish Kumar NDA pulled Bihar out of the abyss. Your claims are a bundle of lies,”Mr. Niraj said.

Bihar JD(U) president Umesh Singh Kushwaha, in a statement, said that after assuming the office, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar saved the state from “Jungle Raj” and established a law-and-order system.

Published – April 05, 2026 11:55 pm IST