Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will contest the upcoming state elections in alliance with the BJP but may later switch sides to stay in power.
Speaking at a press conference in West Champaran, Kishor said that despite his efforts, Kumar has become too unpopular to secure a fifth consecutive term as chief minister.
"Anyone can become the chief minister after the elections in November—except Nitish Kumar. You can take my word for it. If I’m wrong, I’ll end my own political campaign," Kishor stated.
BJP hesitant to support Nitish Kumar
There have been speculations that Nitish Kumar might leave the NDA before the elections, as the BJP has not declared him their chief ministerial candidate. However, Kishor dismissed these rumors, saying, "He will contest with the BJP. The only exception was in 2015, when I managed his campaign."
Kishor also claimed that the BJP is hesitant to declare Kumar as the CM candidate because of his declining popularity. "I challenge PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to announce that Nitish Kumar will be chief minister for a full five-year term if the NDA wins. If they do, the BJP will struggle to win seats," he said.
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JDU will perform poorly, says Kishor
Kishor, a former JD(U) leader who was expelled in 2020, predicted that JD(U) will perform very poorly in the elections. He believes Kumar might try to switch alliances again but won’t be able to secure the top post due to his party’s weak performance.
"Nitish Kumar Is Mentally and Physically Exhausted"
The 47-year-old politician also attacked Kumar personally, claiming he is "physically tired and mentally retired." Kishor alleged that even former BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had once said Kumar had a "serious mental illness."
He challenged Kumar to name his cabinet ministers without reading from a paper, claiming the chief minister is no longer in control of governance.
Kishor also criticised Kumar for bowing before PM Modi during the formation of the new central government last year, calling it an act of "sycophancy" to hold on to power. He questioned why Kumar, instead of showing loyalty, doesn’t use his influence to revive Bihar’s struggling sugar industry.
Bihar's political stagnation and liquor ban criticism
Kishor said that Bihar's politics has been stuck between Nitish Kumar and his longtime rival Lalu Prasad Yadav for decades. His Jan Suraaj Party aims to break this cycle and bring real change.
He also criticised Bihar’s prohibition policy, calling it an example of BJP’s hypocrisy. "Why doesn’t the BJP ask Yogi Adityanath to ban liquor in Uttar Pradesh or implement prohibition in other BJP-ruled states? Elsewhere, they talk about development, but in Bihar, they think free ration and liquor bans are enough," he said.
Kishor’s strong statements add to the growing debate about Bihar’s political future ahead of the assembly elections.
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