'Ban Mann Ki Baat'

The Congress has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio speeches, titled Mann Ki Baat be banned till the Bihar elections are over. The party feels that Modi could influence Bihari voters through his radio address.

The Congress is part of the Nitish Kumar-Lalu Prasad Yadav electoral combine and is taking on the BJP-led NDA alliance in the upcoming elections to Bihar assembly. The elections to the Bihar assembly are being held in five phases. The election is crucial for both the BJP and the Nitish-Lalu combine. A victory shows that the Modi magic is still at work, while a Nitish victory would apply brakes to Modi juggernaut.

Mann Ki Baat is Narendra Modi’s people connect programme and he is taking up several rural and urban issues like Swachh Bharat, drug absuse, sanitation and girl child education. To lend some interactivity to the sessions, the PM cites questions and suggestions sent to him by people from across the country. The Congress feels Modi will use this opportunity to reach out to the Bihari voters, who are mainly rural.