Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi., File | Photo credit: ANI
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (Oct 28, 2025) accused the “Modi-Nite” government of crushing the dreams of Bihar’s youth and leaving the state neglected and lagging behind in almost all development indices.
In a post on X, Mr Gandhi shared a video of his recent interaction with the youth of Bihar where he discussed education, healthcare and employment. The students highlighted these sectors as the main areas where the state lagged behind others.
“There is only one culprit for the sorry state of Bihar – the BJP-JDU government,” said the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. After renewing the Mahagatbandhan’s (Grand Alliance’s) commitment to justice, he said the time has come for a change.
“The youth of Bihar is well aware of how in the last 20 years this Modi-Nita government has strangled their aspirations, left the state desolate and pushed it into the abyss in all parameters,” he said.
A few days ago I had a very interesting conversation with the youth of Bihar on all issues – education, health, employment. And there is only one culprit behind this entire situation, the BJP-JDU government.
The youth of Bihar know very well how this Modi-Nita government has strangled their aspirations in the last 20 years,… pic.twitter.com/Vcn8fNoMpv
—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 28, 2025
Citing government data, Mr. Gandhi said Bihar was ranked 27th out of 29 states in class 9 and 10 dropout rate, 28th in class 11 and 12 enrollment and 28th in female literacy. In terms of employment, Bihar was 21st in service sector and 23rd in industry and manufacturing, he said.
In health indicators, the state ranked 27th in infant mortality, 27th in insurance coverage and last in access to home toilets. He further noted that Bihar is 27th in Human Development Index (HDI) and 25th in per capita income. “These are not just numbers, they are a mirror reflecting how far the so-called ‘twin engine’ government has dragged Bihar backwards,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader said during his recent poll Adhikar Yatra that the kind of “natural intelligence” he witnessed in Bihar was not seen elsewhere. “But the structure has completely failed. Bihar is not being built together,” he added.
The opposition leader praised Bihar’s youth as talented and hardworking and accused the government of giving them “unemployment and despair instead of opportunities”. “Now is the time for change to rekindle Bihar’s pride,” he said, calling for support for the Grand Alliance’s vision of justice and progress.
During a meeting with students from Bihar studying in Delhi, Mr. Gandhi asked if they had been forced to leave the state for education, to which many agreed, citing poor conditions in local institutions. Some students also spoke of discrimination and said that “bihari” was often used as a slur in universities. Mr Gandhi shared a lighter moment with the students and also tried to speak in Bhojpuri to wish the people of Bihar on the occasion of Chhath festival.
Elections to the 243-member Bihar Assembly will be held on November 6 and 11. The results will be announced on November 14.
Published – 28 Oct 2025 20:17 IST
