Modi promises billions to Bihar as elections loom
AFP, Patna :
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took his political campaign to the impoverished state of Bihar, promising billions of dollars for infrastructure projects as he seeks to win support ahead of crucial elections there.
Modi committed to allocate funds amounting to some $5.8 billion over five years to help develop the eastern state, as he addressed a gathering in the state capital Patna.
The Hindu nationalist premier also launched railway, highway, gas and energy projects, already approved by the central government, before inaugurating a premier engineering college. The state goes to polls in November.
“We believe that states must progress. The gas pipeline and rail projects would lead to development and improve the quality of life of the people in the state,” he said.
Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power last May, pledging to reform and revive a flagging economy.
While the BJP has a majority in the lower house of the parliament, it has only about a quarter of the 245 members in the upper house, where seats are distributed based on the strength of political parties in state assemblies.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took his political campaign to the impoverished state of Bihar, promising billions of dollars for infrastructure projects as he seeks to win support ahead of crucial elections there.
Modi committed to allocate funds amounting to some $5.8 billion over five years to help develop the eastern state, as he addressed a gathering in the state capital Patna.
The Hindu nationalist premier also launched railway, highway, gas and energy projects, already approved by the central government, before inaugurating a premier engineering college. The state goes to polls in November.
“We believe that states must progress. The gas pipeline and rail projects would lead to development and improve the quality of life of the people in the state,” he said.
Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power last May, pledging to reform and revive a flagging economy.
While the BJP has a majority in the lower house of the parliament, it has only about a quarter of the 245 members in the upper house, where seats are distributed based on the strength of political parties in state assemblies.
