Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has urged people to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party alliance 'to help build a new Bihar.'

He blamed the Rashtriya Janata Dal led by Lalu Prasad Yadav for keeping Bihar backward.

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Addressing an election meeting at the crowded Raj Maidan in Darbhanga, Bihar, on Wednesday to canvass support for the National Democratic Alliance candidate in Mithilanchal, Vajpayee said 'development in Bihar has come to a standstill.'

"There is lack of job avenues for youths. Poverty and unemployment have increased. Roads are in an extremely bad shape and there is lack of clean drinking water. People don't have easy access to medicines and other basic necessities. The state also lags behind on the educational front," he said.

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He said when the NDA had just began improving the state of highways and other roads it was voted out of power at the Centre.

He said the RJD disposition had done nothing for Bihar during its 15-year rule.

"A change of government will help build a new Bihar," he said.