PATNA, Sept. 5 -- Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president and Union minister of food processing industries Chirag Paswan on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the opposition alliance, drawing parallels between recent abuses hurled at PM Modi's mother by a youth from a platform of the opposition's Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga and the insult directed at his own mother during the Lok Sabha elections in front of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Speaking at his party's Nav Sankalp Mahasabha at MIT Engineering College ground in Muzaffarpur, Paswan asked the crowd whether they would support "a political alliance which disrespected mothers and sisters." The audience responded with loud cheers in his favour. "On one side are parties like the Congress and the RJD, whose leaders insult mothers and sisters. On the other side are those who respect them and are building a grand temple at Sitamarhi in honour of mother Sita, the epitome of women power. Who would you like to vote for?" he asked. Paswan said such behaviour reflected the "sanskaar" of the opposition. "The culture of Congress and RJD is to disrespect women, while Bihar's tradition is to even address children with respect, calling them 'aap'," he remarked, urging people to reject such politics in the upcoming assembly polls. Bihar goes to elections in the next two months, though the Election Commission has yet to announce the dates. Warning voters that attempts would be made to divide them on caste, religion and creed, Paswan appealed to youth and women to unite for development. Countering the RJD's traditional "M-Y" (Muslim-Yadav) support base, which he said reflected communalism and caste, he coined his own version: "M for Mahila (women) and Y for Yuva (youth)," which together formed the bulk of the population. Outlining his "Bihar First, Bihari First" vision, Paswan said he wanted to fulfil his late father Ram Vilas Paswan's dream of a developed Bihar. "Even after nearly 80 years of Independence, Bihar is still counted among backward states. Our youth still migrate for education and jobs. Why should only Biharis migrate? I dream of a Bihar where people from Delhi and Mumbai will come here for education and employment," he said, narrating his own experience of living and working outside the state. Paswan's remarks on unemployment and migration touched upon an issue expected to dominate the election narrative. In the 2024 general elections, his party won all five seats it contested with over 6% vote share. In the 2020 assembly polls, the undivided LJP had hurt the NDA despite winning just one of the 243 seats, cornering 5.6% votes and finishing runner-up in nine constituencies. The BJP, aware of Paswan's growing clout, is keeping a close watch as the LJP (Ram Vilas) chief has hinted at going solo if his seat-sharing demands are not met. The Muzaffarpur rally saw enthusiastic participation, with slogans of "Bihar ka CM kaisa ho, Chirag Paswan jaisa ho" and "Chirag Paswan zindabad" echoing across the ground before he delivered his 20-minute address. The RJD, on the other hand, said playing politics over mothers was not good. "It's their government. Let them hang the person who hurled abuses at the PM's mother. Disrespect towards anyone's mother is not good. They (NDA) should not play politics over mother but talk on issues," said Mritunjay Tiwary, state spokesperson of the RJD. "How can they forget the insults, abuses and snide remarks they passed against Sonia Gandhi and Rabri Devi in the past? Everyone's mother is respectful. Nobody should cross the Rubicon and be dignified in their actions and words," added Tiwary....