Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a rally in Samastipur, Bihar, on Friday, asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will break all previous electoral records in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The Prime Minister also took a jibe at the opposition INDIA bloc, claiming it was led by “people out on bail.”
“Bihar is now an attractive investment destination. I foresee a future where every district will be teeming with startups driven by local youth,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister further added, “Bihar will keep the ‘jungle raj’ at bay and vote for good governance. ‘Nayi raftaar se chalega Bihar, phir jab aayegi NDA sarkar’ (Bihar’s growth will accelerate once the NDA returns to power). The RJD and Congress indulged in scams; their leaders are out on bail, and now they are trying to usurp the ‘Jannayak’ title of Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur.”
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is heading the INDIA alliance for the Bihar Assembly elections, on Thursday took a swipe at the NDA, stating, “Nitish Kumar is facing injustice. There has been no announcement regarding Nitish Kumar as the NDA’s Chief Ministerial candidate. We want to ask Amit Shah: You declared Nitish Kumar as the Chief Ministerial face in every election before this, so why not this time? This will be Nitish Kumar’s last election. Amit Shah has already made this clear.”
The fact is BJP leaders have refrained from officially projecting Nitish Kumar as the NDA’s Chief Ministerial candidate, asserting that the decision will be made by elected MLAs after the elections. Political analysts suggest that the BJP’s reluctance to make a formal announcement is driven by several factors. These include the party’s desire to maintain strategic flexibility, internal ambitions to increase its influence in Bihar, and concerns over Nitish Kumar’s declining popularity and health. By avoiding a public commitment, the BJP maintains leverage within the alliance and avoids alienating its cadre, some of whom feel the party should assert its own leadership in the state. The ambiguity also allows the BJP to keep post-poll options open.
“One of course is health issues, plus the BJP has been trying to expand its footprint in Bihar and openly endorsing Nitish Kumar is not something that may be liked by cadres or dedicated voters. Some in the BJP, particularly within the state unit, might be eyeing a greater role and could be interested in promoting their own leaders as potential CM candidates. By not committing to Nitish Kumar, the BJP can keep its internal factions happy and avoid sidelining emerging leaders,” say those aware of the ground situation in the key state.
