As Bihar govt steps up efforts to tackle crisis, BJP eyes political dividend

Another area of concern is the returning migrants reaching coronavirus to the villages. The government is thus installing TrueNat, a diagnostic machine used for testing drug-resistant tuberculosis, in every district for the primary Covid-19 test. “Every district will have it soon. Those who test positive can be tested again for Covid-19,” Modi said.

Modi maintained that the government, as well as the BJP and JD(U), have kept aside election concerns to fight the pandemic challenges. However, BJP leaders pointed out that the initiatives of the government and party would “eventually create goodwill for the party”.

Over the last few weeks, the Bihar BJP has stepped up its activities, comprising mainly social work like distributing rations, providing food from community kitchens and reaching medical assistance.

“In order to boost booth-level activities, we have announced Saptarishis programme. Seven booth functionaries representing different sections of society will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s May 31 Mann Ki Baat, while maintaining social distancing norms,” BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, there has been an intense campaign “to expose the absence” of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and LJP leader Chirag Paswan during the corona crisis. BJP leaders pointed out that both the young leaders were away from Patna until early this week.