Patna (Bihar) [India], March 5 (HBTV): Bihar witnessed a major political transition on Thursday as incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha in Patna in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Apart from Kumar, other NDA candidates, including Upendra Kushwaha and Bihar BJP chief Nitin Nabin, also filed their nominations for the Upper House.
Nitish Kumar, who has served as Bihar’s longest-tenured Chief Minister for over two decades, had earlier announced that he would contest for the Rajya Sabha in the current election cycle. The 75-year-old leader also said that the new state cabinet would have his full support.
‘I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance,’ Nitish Kumar posted on X.
His announcement drew sharp reactions from the opposition, which reiterated its allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intended to remove him from the Chief Minister’s post.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on the BJP after Kumar confirmed filing his Rajya Sabha nomination, claiming that his earlier ‘hijack’ allegation had proved correct.
‘Everyone knows that in the Bihar elections, the NDA had given the slogan “2025 se 30 phir se Nitish”. The BJP and NDA’s constituent parties know how the elections were conducted with the use of tricks, tantra-mantra, and the entire system in place. Even at that time, we had said that the BJP had “hijacked” Nitish Kumar and they would not let him remain in the chair again. We had said that he would not stay in the chair for more than six months,’ Yadav said.
He further alleged that Kumar’s move to the Centre was against the sentiments of the people of Bihar.
‘The BJP has a history of ruining whoever it has allied with. The BJP is an anti-OBC, anti-Dalit, and anti-tribal party. They do not want a leader in Bihar who speaks for OBCs or Dalits; they want a “rubber stamp chief minister”. This power change that is happening is against the sentiments of the people. People know the BJP’s tricks and character. We have also worked with Nitish Kumar, but most of the time we were in the opposition. On January 28, 2024, when they (JDU) left us and went away, we had said even then that the BJP would finish them off. We have full sympathy for them; for his service to Bihar, we also want to thank him,’ Yadav added.
Speaking to reporters, Tejashwi Yadav said, ‘I always said “Nitish ji ko ghoda toh chadaya hai dulha banake lekin phera kisi aur ke sath dila raha hai”. The BJP has completely hijacked Nitish Kumar. Nitish Kumar has said that he wants to go to the Rajya Sabha. We have been saying this from the beginning that after the elections, the BJP will not let Nitish Kumar remain in the post of Chief Minister. Today, that statement has come true.’
(ANI)