Patna: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday launched a strong attack on the BJP, accusing the party of “mentally retiring” Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and labeling him a “liability.” Speaking ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, Kharge described the upcoming polls as a turning point against the Modi government’s “corrupt rule” at the Centre.

He criticized the BJP and the Election Commission over alleged electoral malpractices, including vote manipulation and issues with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.

Kharge also highlighted Bihar’s economic challenges under the BJP-led NDA government, citing high unemployment, mass youth migration, and unfulfilled promises such as creating two crore jobs. He described the BJP’s “double-engine” governance claim as hollow, pointing to the lack of special Central government packages for Bihar.

Kharge further blamed Modi’s foreign policy failures for India’s international challenges and underscored the importance of protecting democratic values, warning that democracy is under threat due to concerns over the Election Commission’s transparency.

He concluded that the 2025 Bihar assembly elections would mark a landmark moment, signaling the decline of the Modi government’s authority.