Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of decades-long neglect of India’s tribal communities and claiming that voters in Bihar have delivered a clear message against caste-based politics in the recent assembly elections.
Speaking at a public rally, Modi said the Congress had treated tribal regions as political afterthoughts, failing to provide basic infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. He argued that his government has made historic investments in tribal welfare, including new schools, development missions, and initiatives to connect remote villages by roads and digital networks.
Modi specifically pointed to the BJP-led government’s emphasis on honouring tribal icons and strengthening representation at the national level. “For the Congress, tribals were only a vote bank. For us, they are the pride of India,” he told the crowd.
Turning to Bihar’s recently concluded Phase 1 polling, Modi said the voting patterns show that “Bihar’s people have rejected the politics of caste division.” He said the strong turnout reflected a desire for development, employment, and stability rather than old identity-driven messaging.
Political analysts say Modi’s remarks signal the BJP’s intention to sharpen its narrative ahead of upcoming elections in several states where both tribal communities and caste alignments play major roles. The comments also reflect the party’s confidence following early trends in Bihar that show voters leaning toward economic issues, welfare benefits, and governance performance.
Congress leaders responded by accusing the Prime Minister of rewriting history and ignoring the party’s legacy programs in tribal areas. They said the BJP is using rhetoric to distract from rising unemployment, inflation, and rural distress.
With election season intensifying across multiple states, Modi’s twin message — development-focused politics and the rejection of caste calculations — is expected to be a central theme of the BJP’s campaign in the months ahead.