PATNA, Nov. 1 -- Opposition leaders unleashed a barrage of criticism against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s hastily released election manifesto for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, branding the event a chaotic farce that exposed the coalition's lack of confidence and accountability. The NDA's 'Sankalp Patra', unveiled earlier in the day here, promises ambitious infrastructure projects including a "spiritual city," metro expansions, new airports, and enhanced employment opportunities. However, the launch lasted a mere 26 seconds, with BJP president JP Nadda and CM Nitish Kumar making brief appearances before departing abruptly, leaving dy CM Samrat Choudhary to read the document alone. Addressing a press briefing in the state capital, former Rajasthan chief minister and Congress election observer Ashok Gehlot ridiculed the spectacle as a "dangerous sign for democracy." "They have created history today. Nitish Kumar and JP Nadda were there and left within 26 seconds. Their deputy CM read out the manifesto later. It means they do not believe in their manifesto," Gehlot said. He questioned why Nitish Kumar, NDA's chief ministerial face, was "not allowed" to speak, terming it an "insult to Bihar" and evidence that the BJP had reduced the veteran leader to a "puppet" for vote bank politics. RJD leader and opposition's chief ministerial face Tejashwi Prasad Yadav lambasted the NDA for issuing announcements "only in the name of manifesto." He demanded they first release a "'sorry patra' to apologise to Biharis for not fulfilling promises made over the last 20 years." Yadav accused the alliance of making fresh pledges without implementing past ones, calling it a pattern of evasion. Besides, Gehlot urged NDA to release a "report card" of its 20-year rule instead of "recycling promises" from the opposition's Mahagathbandhan manifesto. "Why are you so afraid of the media and questions? They do not believe in democracy," he added, highlighting the unprecedented brevity as a first in political history. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh echoed the attack, accusing the BJP of deliberately sidelining Nitish Kumar. "They have made Nitish Kumar a puppet. They want to sideline him. Who spoke for them? A BJP leader, the deputy CM. I have never seen such a press conference," Singh said. He alleged BJP leaders Amit Shah and Narendra Modi aimed to rule Bihar by proxy from Delhi, using Nitish's face to usurp his vote bank before discarding him into "obscurity" post-elections. The opposition also raised law and order concerns, with Gehlot citing the recent Mokama murder as indicative of deteriorating security. "Everyone in Bihar is concerned. If something like this can happen in broad daylight, you can imagine the apprehensions people have. The government must take strict steps," he demanded. As Bihar heads to polls next month, the NDA defended the manifesto as a visionary roadmap for development, dismissing criticism as mere sour grapes. Yet, the opposition's coordinated assault portrays the ruling coalition as evasive and untrustworthy, further intensifying a fiercely contested electoral battle....