Motihari (Bihar), Sep 26 (PTI) Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday called her elder brother a "real patriot" who travelled a distance of "4,000 kilometers on foot" to listen to common people and understand their problems.

Vadra who had briefly joined her sibling for "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Bihar last month, made the remark at Motihari while addressing her first solo rally in the state.

"I am not saying this because he is my brother. But Rahul Gandhi is a real patriot. Only a real patriot can cover 4,0000 kilometers on foot, just to listen to the people of his country and learn from them what issues they felt strongly about," said the Wayanad MP, in an obvious reference to the Bharat Jodo Yatra taken out two years ago.

He met common people in barbers' shops, stalls put up by cobblers and fields tilled by farmers to understand the problems people are facing and which schemes would benefit them the most, she said.

"This is the stuff of which real patriots are made. They do not approach the people only with an eye on votes," Vadra said.

Hitting out at the NDA, which rules the Centre and shares power in the state, the Congress leader claimed that the BJP's sole concern has been to win elections by hook or by crook, and hold on to power thereafter.

"To this end, the BJP has been raising caste and religious divides during elections and raising the infiltration bogey. Now, realising that the old tricks do not work, it has taken recourse to vote theft," said the 52-year-old Congress leader.

She was visibly amused when her quizzical remark, "Do you know who have been in power in Bihar for the last 20 years" evoked shouts of "Those who steal votes" from the crowd.

"You have made things so easy for me", quipped Vadra, with a wide grin.

The Congress leader, who is arguably the most sought-after "star campaigner" of her party, had struck a rapport with the crowds by starting her address in Bhojpuri, the local dialect.

As the audience burst into applause in response to the suave leader uttering "kaa haal ba" (how are things going for you all), she followed it up with the remark "the time has come to change the situation (haal). You people have suffered a lot. The time has come to bring in a real change".

Her rally in Bihar came days ahead of announcement of assembly polls in Bihar, where the INDIA bloc, of which the Congress is the second largest constituent after the RJD, would take on the NDA, which includes JD(U) headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, besides some smaller parties.

Vadra made an indirect reference to disbursement of Rs 7,500 crore among 75 lakh women of Bihar under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, at a function attended virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day.

She said, "For years, they have been in power. Why did they not think of these doles earlier? Even now, they are not guaranteeing that the beneficiaries will get Rs 10,000 every month. Mothers and sisters must teach them a lesson in the upcoming elections".

"Our women can be quite smart and make the best of every situation. So, I suggest you all to take all the money from the government, which has, for now, opened up its coffers. But, in the day of polls, vote for those who really think of improving your lives and not remember you only at the time of elections," the Congress leader added.

Vadra also made a mention of leasing out of over 10,000 acres of land in Bhagalpur to a business house allegedly at a throwaway price, and the tariffs imposed by the US which could affect exports of "makhana", Indian fox nuts grown in abundance in north Bihar.

She alleged that the people were suffering because "PM Modi cares only for his friends like Adani and Trump".

Training her guns at Nitish Kumar, Vadra alleged that as many as 27 bridges have caved in across Bihar in the last three years.

"So much for the claims of being a Vikas Purush (man of development)," she said.

Later, while Vadra was heading for her helicopter, journalists approached her with queries about rumours that Kumar, who heads the JD(U), was not in good shape and, hence, "unfit" for a leadership role.

She replied, "I would not like to comment on that. He is an elderly person whom I have never met. My point is, claims of development are meaningless if your people are forced to migrate in search of jobs and the infrastructure that has been built keeps crumbling." PTI NAC NN