At a rally in Supaul ahead of the second phase of the Bihar Assembly election, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of orchestrating a “Ghuspaithiya Bachao Yatra” aimed at protecting infiltrators. Shah promised that under the Bharatiya Janata Party-centred alliance, Bihar would be cleansed of such “intruders” within five years.
Rally attack and the ‘Intruders’ narrative
In his address in Supaul, Shah said: “Do you want the Chief Minister of Bihar to be decided by ghuspaithiye? Should the intruders be removed from Bihar?” He claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s ongoing Voter Adhikar Yatra was not about jobs, education or development, but about “saving the intruders”.
Shah further pledged: “…in the next five years, we will remove all the intruders from Bihar. Not just throw them out, but also end their illegal activities and remove all illegal encroachment… All infiltrators will definitely be deported.” This marks an escalation in the “infiltration” narrative in Bihar’s election campaign, with the BJP making it a core talking point.
Linking Culture, Development and Vote Politics
Beyond accusations on “intruders”, Shah also criticised Lalu Prasad Yadav and Congress over the alleged stalling of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “First, the Mughals stalled it, then the British misled them. After that, Congress and Lalu stalled it,” he said. He contrasted that with the BJP-led government’s achievement of the Bhoomi Pujan in 2019 and Pranapratishtha in 2024.
Also Read | NDA poised for over two-thirds majority, says JDU’s Devesh Chandra Thakur as campaign gains momentum
In line with his development push, Shah invoked promises of new infrastructure for Bihar, linking them with the BJP-led coalition’s narrative of security, progress and cultural pride. The slogans and promises were clearly aimed at reinforcing the keywords: development, security, vote and Bihar.
As the second phase of polling draws near, Shah’s remarks signal a sharpened focus on immigration, infiltration and identity in the campaign. Whether this angle resonates with voters or triggers counter-mobilisation from the opposition remains a key watch-point in the run-up to results day
