JD(U) has been in energy for twenty years since 24 November 2005. When you take credit score for curbing lawlessness and invoking the alleged “Jungle Raj” of your predecessors, Bihar stays economically weak. The latest caste survey confirmed 34.13% of two.97 crore households earn ₹6,000 or much less per 30 days. How do you intend to handle this discontent?
What was the bottom level from which Nitish Kumar began? On legislation and order, social sector, schooling, roads, energy—the State was trailing. He has received 4 consecutive elections and can win arms down once more. He modified Bihar’s face—journey the state and also you’ll see wonderful roads, no Jungle Raj. Girls had been empowered via schemes akin to Jeevika which created self-help teams for ladies. Regardless of the pandemic, Bihar registered double-digit GDP progress and better per capita revenue. Sure, extra funding and business are wanted, however issues are altering and investments are coming. Fixing fundamental issues alone took seven to eight years.
The Particular Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is dominating the headlines. Whereas the Opposition says this can be a type of vote chori [theft], the Election Fee [EC] says it’s to wash up the rolls. What’s your take?
We assist SIR. It isn’t new; it occurred in 2003. Whereas electoral rolls are being revised in Bihar, protests are in Delhi. Have you ever seen voters in Bihar protesting about lacking names? The opposition has no floor assist. They communicate of “vote-chori” however by no means of the state of affairs when Congress or Lalu ji dominated. Bihar’s poor started voting solely after Digital Voting Machines had been launched. Earlier than EVMs, cubicles had been looted and elections mounted—that is documented.
The final time JD(U) was the one largest social gathering was 2010. In 2020 it slipped to 43 seats, third place. What’s your plan to arrest the decline?
You’ll be able to’t examine 2020 with 2025. Within the final polls, a celebration that left NDA contested in opposition to us and was covertly supported by a piece of BJP, drawing candidates largely from BJP and creating confusion. It was additionally the primary election after COVID. Having travelled throughout the state, I imagine Nitish Kumar is at his peak. Even after practically 20 years, there may be pro-incumbency. We’ve got had a real double-engine authorities solely within the final 5 years, which helped. The 2024–25 funds introduced central assist in lots of sectors. Over 20 years we’ve laid the muse for a greater Bihar, slowed migration, and now work to reverse it. Investments are flowing; we’ve acquired land for industries in 30 districts. This election will form Bihar for the following 25 years, not simply 5.
However how do you arrest your social gathering’s downslide?
Take a look at the 2024 elections in Bihar—we contested 16 seats, BJP 17, and each received 12 every. As I mentioned, 2020 was completely different. Within the coming polls NDA as an entire, and JD(U) particularly, will do very properly. We are able to’t repeat the 2010 tally as a result of we contested 141 seats then. In the present day we contest as a part of an alliance.
Your social gathering has at all times talked about sushasan [good governance] beneath Nitish Kumar is understood JD(U) has principally fought in alliance—both with BJP or the mahagathbandhan of RJD and Congress. Why not by yourself?
In my private view, we may have contested the 2015 polls alone. However Nitish ji has been in alliance with BJP since 1996. It’s coalition dharma to stick with them.
Nitish Kumar managed to create a constituency of ladies voters via some pro-women insurance policies like ban on sale of liquor. However there are allegations that this has led to a proliferation of liquor mafia.
No legislation might be excellent. We’ve got open border with Nepal that generally makes it troublesome to cease illicit liquor. However one should observe that prohibition has had a constructive affect on the lives of a number of folks within the rural areas, significantly ladies. Actually, Nitish ji determined to impose prohibition primarily based on the suggestions he acquired from ladies voters, who usually complained that the boys of their household had been spending all their earnings on liqour. Actually, I imagine that any authorities succeeding ours too won’t be able to reverse this coverage.
JD(U) put up posters — “25 Se 30, Phir Se Nitish”. Does this mirror anxiousness that even in case you win, Nitish might not be CM or full his time period?
In 2020, once we acquired 43 seats and BJP 71, Nitish ji instructed Prime Minister Modi BJP may take the CM’s seat and JD(U) would be a part of the federal government. However BJP mentioned the elections had been fought on Nitish ji’s face and he alone must be CM. There’s no anxiousness. It’s a settled difficulty—Nitish Kumar is the face of the alliance and shall be Chief Minister.
However there’s precedent in Maharashtra of Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde being changed.
I already instructed you about Bihar. Nitish ji provided BJP the CM’s chair and guaranteed our participation in authorities. They took time after which instructed us: we went into the election projecting Nitish ji as CM and we’ll proceed with him.
There’s hypothesis about Nitish Kumar’s well being. Don’t voters have the proper to know if he’s match to steer?
Nitish ji campaigned extensively in 2024. He travels every day throughout Bihar, carries out yatras, meets folks, attends the Meeting and manages his work as CM. The opposition is unnecessarily making this a problem. NDA allies and Bihar’s voters have little question about his health. He’s completely wonderful.
What about seat-sharing talks? Have you ever arrived at a components?
I don’t assume there’ll be an issue. Did you hear any murmur through the 2024 polls? Seat division was finished amicably then and shall be settled earlier than October amicably once more.
Is Nishant, the Chief Minister’s son his political inheritor?
He’s very clever. The rationale he’s not within the public eye is as a result of Nitish ji is among the few socialist leaders to not promote relations. A piece of the social gathering feels he ought to be a part of politics. Whether or not he does is his name.
How will Prashant Kishor affect the election? There’s hypothesis he’ll minimize into NDA’s vote share.
It’s simply empty chatter from Delhi. Bihar will see a bipolar election. Those that vote will both again us or the opposition. Our assist base is unbroken.
