The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections under the leadership of JD-U chief Nitish Kumar, with the coalition’s elected legislators to decide the next chief minister after the polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday.
Terming Kumar a prominent socialist leader, Shah highlighted his long-standing anti-Congress stance and his active role in the JP movement during the Emergency. "We are fighting the elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also leading our election campaign," Shah maintained
The 243-member Bihar Assembly will go to polls in two phases, on November 6 and November 11, with counting scheduled for November 14. On whether Kumar would again become chief minister, Shah said, "The elected MLAs of the coalition partners will first elect their respective party leaders, who will then sit together and decide as to who will head the next government."
Responding to queries on whether Kumar would retain the post even if BJP wins more seats, Shah cited the 2020 scenario: "When we won more seats (in 2020), Nitish Kumar told us that the BJP should lead the government. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him that he should lead the government, and eventually he became the chief minister."
Also read: BJP releases list of 40 star campaigners in Bihar
Shah reiterated the BJP’s commitment to respecting its allies. "Wherever we received a full majority, be it states or at the Centre, we ran the government in coalition. We have always respected our alliance partners, and we will do so this time as well," he said. He added that NDA partners remain in close coordination, ensuring smooth discussions on seat-sharing and nominations.
For the Bihar elections, the NDA alliance comprises BJP, JD-U, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM). According to the seat-sharing agreement, BJP and JD-U will contest 101 seats each, LJP (Ram Vilas) 29, while HAM and RLM will field six candidates each.
Shah dismissed suggestions that the opposition’s weaknesses boost the NDA. "The weakness of the opposition can never be the strength of the NDA, which always fights elections on the strength of its popularity and leadership. The NDA will deliver its best performance ever in the Bihar elections this time," he said.
On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, Shah said, "It happened during the time of prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Nehru too. Perhaps Rahul Gandhi was not aware of this," responding to Congress opposition to the exercise.
Shah also criticised RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s promise of a government job for every family in Bihar if elected, noting the financial impracticality: "Approximately Rs 12 lakh crore will be needed to provide jobs to such a large number of people, even though Bihar's budget is around Rs 3.25 lakh crore. Tejashwi Yadav should also explain from where he would arrange Rs 12 lakh crore. It is a baseless promise, a blatant lie told to the youth of Bihar to win votes."
Follow us
