Take ₹10,000 from NDA govt. but don’t vote for them, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tells Bihar women

In her first rally in poll-bound Bihar, Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday (September 26, 2025) urged the women of Bihar to take ₹10,000 given by the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government but not to vote for the alliance.

In Motihari, she started her speech in Bhojpuri, asking the crowd Ka haal ba (how are you). Asserting that the time has come to change the condition in Bihar, she targeted the ruling coalition. In Bihar, no one’s voice is heard, but as elections draw near, all sorts of announcements are being made, she said.

“These people, who have been in the government for 20 years, why didn’t they think of women before? The question is—why have they suddenly woken up just before the elections? and the answer is—they want your vote. I say, if they are giving ₹10,000, take it. But cast your vote for your country’s good,” Ms. Vadra said.

She further said the NDA government never thinks about the welfare of women but when elections come, they pretend to be the champions of women’s welfare.

‘People are tired of BJP-JD(U) govt.’

Ms. Vadra said people of Bihar are tired of the BJP-JD(U) government. They are frustrated, she said.

“Bridges are continuously collapsing in the State. Is this what development is? Youth are not getting employment; continuous migration is happening; youths’ lives are being ruined due to paper leaks. The time for change has come. The public are sensible and know where to cast their vote,” Ms. Vadra said.

The Congress leader, who had briefly joined the party’s Voter Adhikar Yatra last month in Bihar, alleged that when the BJP failed in seeking votes in the name of caste, religion, infiltration, and hollow speeches, it started new tactics of vote chori (vote theft). She claimed that the BJP has only one motive—just to remain in power.

Ms. Vadra was accompanied by Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram, Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav and other leaders of the Bihar Congress on the stage.

She also called her elder brother a “real patriot” who travelled a distance of “4,000 kilometres on foot” to listen to common people and understand their problems.

Women’s conclave

Before her debut rally, she participated in a womens’ conclave organised at the party office in Patna, where she interacted with ASHA workers, Anganwadi jeevikas, and self-help group members, belonging to various sections.

“Our sisters are engaged in endless struggles and they work in inhumane conditions and do not even receive respectable remuneration. The INDIA bloc government will address every problem faced by the women of Bihar and will ensure their respect,” Ms. Vadra said.

In a post on X on September 26, 2025, the Congress party said an INDIA bloc government will give ₹2,500 every month to women, 3 to 5 decimals of land, ownership rights for women, apart from up to ₹25 lakh for free treatment.