Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the growing strength of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar was forcing even senior leaders of INDI alliance parties to opt out of contesting Lok Sabha seats and shift to safe seats in the Rajya Sabha.

He was addressing a public meeting in Aurangabad, Bihar after inaugurating and launching multiple development projects worth more than Rs 21,400 crore in Bihar, covering road and rail sectors.

Mr Modi said Bihar’s development had gathered pace once again, with the return of the Janata Dal (U)-BJP ‘double-engine’ government. “I can see excitement among people at prospects of development in the State,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the “happy faces” of people had however meant disappointment for the parties which were planning to grab power and loot the State. “I have heard many senior leaders of dynastic party in Bihar are planning to opt out of the Lok Sabha contests,” he said.

Mr Modi said: “I had said in Parliament that all are running away, they do not want to contest Lok Sabha polls, they are searching for Rajya Sabha seats. In fact, they are not getting support from people. This is the result of your enthusiasm and trust in the NDA, and I have come here to thank you for this,” he said.

“After the increase in NDA’s strength in the State, parivarvadi (dynastic) politics is getting marginalised. This politics may bring positions of power to members of the dynastic families, but they cannot even once talk about the work of governments of their parents,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Modi said Bihar had received the gift of so many completed infrastructure projects on one day. This showed the NDA’s pattern of work; the NDA initiates work, completes it, and also dedicates it to people. This is how Modi’s Guarantee works, he said.

The Prime Minister said foundation stones were laid for rail projects, 12 projects were launched under Namami Gange, developed at a cost of about Rs 2,190 crore. Expressways are under development, this is NDA’s way of work, he said.

“I congratulate all people of Bihar on these projects,” he said. He said “a few days ago, the pride of Bihar, Karpoori Thakur was conferred with Bharat Ratna by the nation. This honour is an honour for the entire state of Bihar.”

There was pran pratishtha at Ram Temple some days ago, he said. “The Ayodhya event of Ram Lalla’s consecration would have made people, the happiest in the land of Mother Sita’s birth. I have come here to share the happiness of people in the State, the way they celebrated the event and sent gifts for Ram Lalla,” he said.

The Prime Minister said Bihar’s fast-paced development showed how transformation comes about when there is a double-engine government. The road and highways work started today will change the face of many districts, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nalanda, Patna, Vaishali, Samastipur and Dharbanga people will get a new experience in modern travel.

Many other districts will have much better connectivity, he said. All cities of Bihar have potential for pilgrim tourism. New airports will be linked with the new road infrastructure, he said. This will help tourists. New Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains have been added.

There was a time when people were scared of going out of home in Bihar, he said. Now there is talk of emerging possibilities in tourism. There was no peace, and lives of people were taken over by insecurity and terrorism, forcing many to migrate to other States.

Now the youth in the State are acquiring new skills, he said. “This is the new direction of Bihar, we will not let the State slide back to its unstable past, Bihar will progress, including its poor, adivasis and the deprived population,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the PM Garib Yojana is helping nine crore people in the State; one crore have got free gas connections under Ujjwala scheme, 90 lakh farmers get PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and Rs 22,000 crores have been transferred to their bank accounts also.

Only two per cent had tap water in their homes till five years ago; today 90 per cent of homes have water on their taps, he said. More than 80 lakh Ayushman card holders are there in the State, with an assured Rs 5 lakh medical treatment guarantee.

The Uttar Koel reservoir yojana will provide irrigation to one lakh hectare agriculture land in four districts of Bihar and Jharkhand, he said. “Development of Bihar is Modi’s guarantee, the rule of law and peace and rights of women, is Modi’s guarantee. In its third term, the BJP government will complete these guarantees and make Viksit Bihar, the government is committed,” he said.