New Delhi [India], November 6 (ANI): Amid the ongoing first phase of Assembly elections in Bihar, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making 'false promises' to the state of Bihar, and questioning whether the 'trouble-engine' government has deliberately kept the areas of Bhagalpur, and Seemanchal backwards for their own electoral gains.

'In the 20 years of the BJP-JD(U) government, Seemanchal has only been neglected, resulting in nearly half its population being trapped in severe poverty. Why has Seemanchal been neglected under the double-engine government, and why has this region been left in such a state of ruin?,' Hairam Ramesh posted n X in Hindi.

The Congress leader's comments come while PM Modi is visiting the districts of Araria and Bhagalpur amid the ongoing first phase of assembly polls.

'Pradhanmantri ka jhoot sabse majboot!! (PM's lies are the strongest) Today, the Prime Minister is coming to Bhagalpur and Seemanchal - On this occasion, we want to remind him of some of his past false promises and ask him some direct questions,' the Congress leader's X post read.

According to the Congress general secretary in-charge Communications, he pointed out that in the past 11 years, PM Modi has promised Central universities, sugar mills, building an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), across various districts, including in Bhagalpur, Motihari, and Darbhanga.

'In 2015, the Prime Minister had said - I will build the Vikramshila Central University in Bhagalpur on 500 acres with 500 crore. 10 years later - not even a single brick has been laid. Did Vikramshila also fly away into thin air along with the 1.25 lakh crore package? In 2014, the Prime Minister had confidently said about the Motihari Sugar Mill - 'Next time I come, I'll drink tea made from the sugar produced by this very mill.' 11 years have passed. People are still waiting to have that tea. Why did the Prime Minister tell such a big lie to the people of Motihari?' the X post read.

According to the Congress leader, PM Modi had promised a Rs 1,264 crore worth of AIIMS in Darbhanga in 2020, however 5 years later, neither the hospital is functioning nor has a building been built.

'In 2020, a promise of 1,264 crore was made for the Darbhanga AIIMS. To this day, neither has the building been constructed, nor has the hospital started functioning. And in between, in 2023, the Prime Minister even claimed that the Darbhanga AIIMS had been inaugurated. Will the Darbhanga AIIMS ever emerge from the manifesto into reality?' he said.

Quoting the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), the Rajya Sabha MP said that basic facilities such as running water, gas, bathrooms, have been lacking for the people living in the area of Seemanchal, which includes Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, Katihar and others.

'73% of households do not have access to tap water or handpumps. 33% of families defecate in the open. 65% of families use wood-fired stoves - a risk for lung diseases. 84% of families have fewer than three basic items in their homes (such as TV, fan, bicycle, etc.). That is, severe poverty. Most households depend on agriculture, but more than 40% are landless,' he said.

He further expressed confidence in a Mahagathbandhan victory, saying that the people will respond to the 'neglect' by the NDA with the 'sting of votes.

'In summary - Seemanchal has neither education, nor health facilities, nor employment. Only poverty and migration prevail. The Prime Minister's development isn't visible here even from afar. This time, the people of Seemanchal and Bhagalpur will respond to this neglect by defeating the NDA with the sting of their votes,' he said.

Voting for the first phase of the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar began at 7:00 am across 121 constituencies in 18 districts, covering the state's 243 seats, with approximately 3.75 crore electors casting their ballots.

Polling will conclude at 6 pm; however, due to security considerations, polling time has been curtailed to 5 pm in some constituencies.

According to the Election Commission, there are 10.72 lakh 'new electors', and 7.78 lakh voters are in the 18-19 years age group. (ANI)