Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ruled out forming an adjustment of any form with the main Opposition leader Lalu Yadav. Responding to Yadav’s statement that his “doors are open” Kumar contended saying there is no turning back. The former ally of Mr Yadav’s RJD party, Bihar’s JD (U) leader, left the Grand Alliance over policy issues and shifted loyalties to the BJP ‘s led NDA bloc.
About his previous relation with RJD, Kumar said, ‘Those who were in power before us… did they do anything? There are so many different fears and anxieties that people had to leave their homes and not come out at night. Partnership with them was a mistake.”
Changes and Politics
Kumar pointed to his government’s successes; schemes of women upliftment are programs like Jivika self-help groups, the government replicates such models at the national level. He asked, “Can you find similar assertive country women?” emphasizing the change his administration brought, seven years later.
On the other hand, Lalu Yadav’s son Tejashwi Yadav has denied any form of working with Kumar on any project. Where Nitish Kumar is concerned, our door is shut definitely and for ever. Biharis rely on me, and this time alone we shall be able to come into power, Khattar said confidently.
The Electoral Problem for NDA
The BJP has formally supported Kumar as the NDA’s CM candidate for the upcoming assembly polls. It may still want to have Rahul Kumar, Bihar’s native son, as its chief ministerial candidate, chiefly because Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently confirmed Kumar as the alliance’s leader in Bihar.
The BJP, which could not gain a majority in the recent Lok Sabha polls, has to rely on the support from JD(U) and others like TDP if it has to remain in power at the Centre.
Laying of the Foundation Stone
In the course of its Rs 450 crore project launching at Muzaffarpur, Kumar countered Lalu Yadav’s statements. He repledged the government’s development agenda and rubbished the flip-flopping of the RJD.
It clearly shows Nitish Kumar’s stand on political coalition with the freedom to choose his partners for development of Bihar.
