'PEHLE MATDAAN, PHIR JALPAAN': MODI'S CALL TO WOMEN IN BIHAR

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged BJP workers in Bihar to ensure record women turnout, declaring “Pehle matdaan, phir jalpaan” and predicting an NDA sweep.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA/ TIKAM SHARMA/TDG NETWORK

On the final day of canvassing for Phase-1 of the Bihar Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged BJP cadre to maximise women’s turnout, coining the mantra “Pehle matdaan, phir jalpaan” and directing panna pramukhs to ensure women in their lists vote first.

Interacting with women workers under the ‘Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot’ drive, he cited metros, Vande Bharat trains and cheaper power bills as examples of policies aimed at easing women's lives, and predicted a record NDA win over “jungle raj”.

The NDA projected confidence across the board. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the alliance would win “more than 160 seats” and form the government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, rejecting Opposition attacks on welfare as “freebies” and defending the ongoing Special Intensive Revision as a routine EC exercise. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath framed the contest as “good governance versus jungle raj”, highlighting infrastructure and welfare roll-outs and urging voters to deliver a decisive mandate.