The RJD on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his unfulfilled promise to revive sugar mills in Bihar and wondered whether the Prime Minister has given up on his promise because of diabetes.

RJD MP Misa Bharti humorously remarked on PM Modi’s unfulfilled commitment to enjoy tea sweetened with sugar from Bihar’s sugar mills, which have remained inactive for many years.

Bharti, the eldest daughter of RJD leader Lalu Prasad, asserted that the sugar industry in Bihar has not been revived so far and questioned whether Modi had abandoned his promise due to diabetes.

“The PM is enjoying his third consecutive term in office and has not fulfilled any of the promises he made before ascending to power,” she stated, emphasising her disappointment as a resident of Bihar who recalls Modi’s grand declarations about revitalizing the state’s sugar mills.

She sarcastically asked, “Why did he not fulfill his own promise? Has he developed diabetes?”

Responding to media inquiries, Bharti also dismissed the concept of “One nation one poll” as a “shigoofa” (gimmick) from the Modi government, arguing that they struggle to conduct elections in four states simultaneously, let alone nationwide.

Her comment referenced the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand occurring after recent elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.

Affiliated with the INDIA coalition, Bharti expressed confidence in the alliance’s success in upcoming Assembly elections and by-polls. Additionally, she condemned derogatory comments made by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant against a candidate from Eknath Shinde’s faction, asserting that “no offensive remarks should be made about a woman, even if she is a rival.”

Furthermore, she criticised inflammatory statements from Union Minister Giriraj Singh during the Hindu Swabhiman Yatra, saying it is “appalling” that a Union Minister could incite violence without facing repercussions.

Bharti also raised concerns about the BJP’s silence regarding a new political outfit formed by former Union Minister RCP Singh, who had transitioned to the BJP after being ousted from Nitish Kumar’s JD(U).

She took issue with Prashant Kishor, the Jan Suraaj founder, for making commitments that he never asked BJP and Nitish Kumar to fulfill while he was managing their campaign.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to clear Rs 1.36 lakh crore coal dues to the state.

PM Modi and Shah are scheduled to visit poll-bound Jharkhand. The Prime Minister will address two rallies on November 4 while Shah will address three public meetings on November 3.

In a post on X, Soren said, “The PM and the home minister are coming to Jharkhand. I once again request them with folded hands to clear the outstanding (coal dues) of Rs 1.36 lakh crore to Jharkhandis. This amount is crucial for Jharkhand.” Soren also appealed to BJP MPs to facilitate clearance of the amount.

Soren stressed that the outstanding payments owed by central public sector undertakings, particularly Coal India, are legitimate entitlements of Jharkhand and argued that “the delay in payment is causing irreparable harm to the state’s development.”

“I would also appeal to my BJP colleagues, especially the MPs, to help Jharkhandis in getting our dues,” Soren posted on X, sharing a copy of a letter to the Prime Minister.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, he stated, “I, Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, would like to bring to your attention a grave issue that is obstructing the development of our state. Our dues from coal companies amount to Rs 1.36 lakh crore.”

He added that, despite legal provisions and judicial verdicts, coal companies have failed to make any payments. “These issues have been raised at various forums, including your esteemed office, the Finance Ministry, and NITI Aayog, yet the compensation of Rs 1.36 lakh crore remains unpaid,” Soren mentioned.

A recent decision by a nine-judge Supreme Court bench reaffirmed the state’s right to collect its mining and royalty dues. Soren pointed out that the non-payment of these dues is hindering vital socio-economic projects in Jharkhand, which is already an under-developed state.

“Numerous socio-economic development projects are being stalled due to the non-payment of our legitimate claims,” he noted.

Last month, he proposed a direct debit arrangement from Coal India’s account to the state, similar to what was established for the Jharkhand State Electricity Board’s dues to the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).

“This continued delay in addressing our rightful demands has compelled me to reach out to you, as this negligence inflicts irreparable damage on Jharkhand and its people. Many social sector initiatives in education, health, women’s and child development, clean drinking water, and last-mile connectivity cannot be implemented due to insufficient funding,” Soren asserted.

He previously accused the central government of being indifferent to the challenges faced by the state, drawing attention to the unequal treatment regarding outstanding dues. The Jharkhand Assembly elections are set to take place in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.

The Congress on Saturday demanded a probe into alleged blackmail and coercion used to bring NCP leader Ajit Pawar into the NDA fold and said the BJP’s washing machine was nowhere more powerful than in Maharashtra.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted recent comments from Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to assert that the situation encompassed not only coercion and blackmail but also a breach of confidentiality and the Official Secrets Act.

“The BJP’s washing machine is an all-India phenomenon, but perhaps nowhere is it more powerful than in Maharashtra,” Ramesh said.

Ramesh recalled that prior to 2014, the BJP had accused Ajit Pawar, who was then the state’s irrigation and water resources minister, of corruption amounting to Rs 70,000 crore. According to him, Ajit Pawar has now acknowledged that the BJP used blackmail and coercion related to these allegations to persuade him to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

He noted, “The non-biological Prime Minister himself led the charge, famously labeling the NCP—now an ally at both the state and national levels—as a Naturally Corrupt Party.”

Furthermore, Ramesh indicated that after becoming Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis presented Ajit Pawar with a file suggesting an open inquiry into the alleged irrigation scam, implying a threat of compliance or consequences.

Ajit Pawar, along with several other MLAs, separated from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by his uncle Sharad Pawar and allied with the Shiv Sena-BJP government last year.

Ramesh stressed that the allegations constitute a serious issue involving coercion, blackmail, and breaches of confidentiality. He has called for a thorough investigation into these claims.

These comments from Ramesh followed Ajit Pawar’s assertions that he was backstabbed by former colleague and then Home Minister R.R. Patil, who initiated an inquiry against him concerning the alleged multi-crore irrigation scam.

Ajit Pawar mentioned that a file reflecting Patil’s inquiry order was shown to him by BJP leader Fadnavis after he assumed the Chief Minister’s role in 2014. He conveyed these points while campaigning for NCP candidate Sanjay Kaka Patil in Tasgaon, Sangli district.