Citing vote-bank politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar for having a “soft corner” for infiltrators, alongside a “dislike” for Lord Ram and “ Chhathi Maiya ,” news agency PTI reported.

Addressing a poll rally in Bihar’s Araria district, the prime minister alleged that the reluctance of Opposition leaders to visit Ayodhya for offering prayers at the shrines of Nishad Raj, Mata Shabri and Maharshi Valmiki, suggests their “hatred” for Dalits and backward classes.

His comments came as voting for the first phase of polls began early Thursday in 121 out of 243 Assembly constituencies of Bihar. Key faces in this phase include Mahagathbandhan’s pick for the chief ministerial post Tejashwi Yadav and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary of the Bharatiya Janat

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