Patna (Bihar) [India], October 29 (ANI): Taking a swipe at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's absence from the Mahagathbandhan's manifesto cover, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday remarked that Tejashwi Yadav now considers his father a 'villain,' just as the people of Bihar do.

Choudhary added that earlier, it was the people of the state who referred to Lalu Yadav as a villain, but now even the Mahagathbandhan has done the same.

'The people of Bihar used to consider the national president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal a villain, but now even the Rashtriya Janata Dal has started considering him a villain. Even his son considers him a villain. They are not even giving Lalu Yadav a place in their manifesto. The people of Bihar already knew that Lalu Yadav is a villain, and now even the people of RJD and the Mahagathbandhan have started saying that Lalu Yadav is a villain,' Samrat Choudhary told reporters.

This comes after the Mahagathbandhan released its manifesto titled 'Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran', outlining key promises ahead of the polls, while addressing a joint press conference in Patna.

According to the manifesto, under the 'Mai-Behin Maan Yojana', women will receive financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month from December 1 for the next five years.

The Opposition's alliance promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). OPS has been on the Congress agenda since the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government in Himachal Pradesh restored it soon after assuming office. Congress had also included it in its manifesto for the Haryana Assembly polls.

Mahagathbandhan has promised to put the Waqf (Amendment) Act on hold, and to make the management of Waqf properties 'welfare-oriented and transparent'.

The 2025 Bihar elections will have the main contest between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan.NDA includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.

Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).

Additionally, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj has staked claims to all 243 seats in the state. The assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14. (ANI)